Myanmar Bird Watching Tour Agent & Myanmar Travel Expert Birding Team

MYANMAR

A report on birds seen from 26 February – 12 March 2017


Henk Hendriks
	Other participants: Frans Hendriks Peter Logtmeijer

Myanmar 26 February – 12 March 2017 Henk Hendriks

INTRODUCTION

Myanmar was already on my radar for several years and this year I decided to go for it.
During the planning stage it turned out that if we used Emirates for our international flight we could make a free stopover in Bangkok.
As my brother Frans was very eager to finally observe the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Peter would like to try for Nordmann’s Greenshank and I could observe some missing targets in Kaeng Krachan N.P., we opted for a 5-day visit to Thailand, prior of our trip to Myanmar. As several birders before us we used the services of Myanmar Travel Expert to organise our Myanmar trip. Mr. Moe, the owner of the company did an excellent job and the logistics (accommodation, car and flights) were both good and punctual. I asked for a 5- day stay at Mount Victoria as the best species are found at this site. On top of that we had Ko Pan as a birding guide and besides a nice guy, he turned out to be a sharp-eyed birder with an excellent knowledge of bird calls and songs, too.
The only thing in our itinerary which I would change is to include a morning visit to Hlawga Park instead of a late afternoon visit as we did, to increase your chances of finding the soon to be split subspecies of Stripe-throated Bulbul. We failed to find it. I am not writing a very detailed trip report as all info can be found in the very good reports mentioned in the reference section.
But all GPS info of interesting species can be found on www.observado.com Select Myanmar February 6 to March 11 2017 and see all info imported by Peter Logtmeijer.

VISA

You do need a visa for Myanmar.
A Tourist Visa Approval Letter to Myanmar is easily arranged on the internet. You apply on line and you receive the approval letter, which you hand over at immigration when you arrive at Yangon.

GETTING THERE – FLIGHT

We flew with Emirates from Amsterdam to Dubai where we changed for a flight to Bangkok. After our 5-day stay in Thailand we flew with Emirates from Bangkok to Yangon.
On our way back we flew from Yangon to Dubai where we changed for a flight to Amsterdam. We paid 680 € for these flights.

MONEY

The currency in Myanmar is the Kuat (MMK)
During our stay the exchange rate was: 10.000 MMK = 7
Euro We changed 200€ at Yangon airport when we arrived and this was more than sufficient to pay for meals, drinks, laundry and tips.

GETTING AROUND – FLIGHTS - CAR – ACCOMMODATION – FOOD & DRINKS

The 3 domestic flights we had, were both punctual and trouble free. Advantage is that you had to be at the airport only 1 to 1½ hours before departure.
Transport was by minibus. A few years ago you needed a 4-wheel drive car for the trip from Bagan to Mount Victoria but nowadays the road is much improved so we travelled in a comfortable minibus.
Accommodation arranged by mr. Moe was good but with regards to the cabins at Pine Wood Villa in the Mount Victoria area, I would like to make a remark (See health & safety section)
Food was okay but both Peter and I suffered from food-related problems.
A cool Myanmar beer was greatly appreciated in the evening.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Myanmar is a very safe country and many backpackers travel around the country without any problems. People are very friendly and helpful.
We hardly encountered mosquitoes, but we took profilaxis against malaria anyway (Malarone).
Peter crashed out completely one day because of food poisoning. Fortunately he made a fast recovery and all species missed by him that day on Mount Victoria were again observed the following days.
I also encountered a few days of not feeling very fit, combined with stomach problems, which were most likely caused by the same salad Peter and I took at a not so clean restaurant on our way from Bagan to Mount Victoria.
But the biggest health problem we encountered was the fact that Frans was bitten by a rat in his bed in our cabin at Pine Wood Villa, Mount Victoria. The wound was bleeding and we cleaned it, but of course we were concerned what the effect could be of that bite. A rat in your room is not nice in the first place, but in someone’s bed and also biting is not really a “normal” behaviour.
So the next day we had to seek medical advice. The problem was that there was no internet connection on the mountain and also no coverage to make a phone call.
Instead we visited a local “hospital” and the physician there told us that there were no cases of rabies in the area and he gave Frans an injection against tetanus and some antibiotics.
A few days later Frans mailed home to ask for additional medical advice and when we were in Kalaw, later in the trip and a week after the bite, he got an emergency call from the Netherlands that he should immediately fly to Yangon, to Victoria Hospital, where he would receive the first injections against rabies. Most rabies infections are caused by dog bites, less by bats but there are also cases that rats carry the decease. Fact is, that if it is rabies and you do not receive injections against it within 2 to 3 days, you’ll die!
Anyway Frans took the flight and got his injections and is still under observation at home.
When talking to Mr.Moe later, he told us that he also had a rat in his cabin a year before.
So, as there are several more options to stay in the area (new lodges have been built) I would suggest to opt for another place to stay.

WEATHER

In the low-lying areas of Yangon and Bagan it was hot to very hot.
The weather in the Mount Victoria area was very nice. It can be quite chilly in the morning and late afternoon but warm to even very warm in the middle of the day.
The weather at Lake Inle and Kalaw was also very nice.
It rained only in the afternoon of our full day at Kalaw. According to Ko Pan this was exceptional and it was really heavy rain for most of the afternoon.

BIRDING

I can only say that we had a very nice trip. We saw all the endemics and near-endemics we targeted with the exception of the subspecies of Stripe-throated Bulbul. We did not observe White-rumped Falcon between Bagan – Mount Victoria, mainly because we opted to spend another early morning at Mount Victoria and so we arrived too late (too hot) at the area where it occurs. We all had seen the species very well in Cambodia.
At Mount Victoria we also had excellent views of a pair of Purple Cochoa’s, at Lake Inle we saw Chinese Grassbird, Baikal Bush Warbler and Collared Myna, near Kalaw Burmese Yuhina and Dark-rumped Swift.
I can really recommend Ko Pan as your birding guide. He is a well-known and experienced birder, found more than 20 species new for the country and birded Myanmar from top to bottom. He told us great stories of survey’s for Gurney’s Pitta in the south, monitoring Spoon-billed Sandpipers and of his observations of mouth-watering species like Sclater’s Monal, Blyth’s Tragopan, White-bellied Heron and Snowy-throated Babbler in the north. Already in de 90-ies of the last century he found Chinese Grassbird at Inle Lake and to our surprise he took us to a ridge, close to Kalaw, where we observed Dark-rumped Swift!

REFERENCES

Books & Articles
-A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia – Craig Robson

Trip reports
Myanmar: March – April 2016 by Oscar Campbell
Birding Myanmar: December 2013 by Mans Grundsten
Birding Trip Report to Myanmar: Dec. 27 2012 – Jan. 12 2013 by Peter Collaerts
Burma: March 2012 by Jon Hornbuckle

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First my birding companions Frans and Peter and our great guide Ko Pan.
Other birders who contributed in one way or another were Peter Collaerts and Remco Hofland.

USEFUL ADDRESSES

Travel Expert Tourism Co., Ltd
Website: : www.myanmartravelexpert.com, www.myanmarbirding.com
Email: sales@myanmartravelexpert.com, moe@myanmartravelexpert.com
Ko Pan: kopanornithologist15@gmail.com

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day1: Sunday 26 February

Around 15.00 pm we arrived on a short flight from Bangkok. We had spent 4 very fruitful days in Thailand (Kaeng Krachan & Pak Thale area) prior to this Myanmar trip.
After collecting our visa and luggage we immediately drove to Hlawga Park, where we arrived just after 16.00 pm. We were accompanied by 2 local bird guides, trained by Ko Pan. As the park closes at 17.00 pm we birded a scrubby area, just opposite the entrance of the park. According to our guides this is a very good area to find the local (sub)species of Stripe-throated Bulbul. It was soaring hot and we birded until dusk but to no avail. In hindsight we should have planned an early morning visit to this site to increase our chances for the bulbul.
So we drove to our hotel in Yangon (7 Mile hotel), where we had dinner and our first Myanmar beer.

Day 2: Monday 27 February

At 05.30 we met Ko Pan in the lobby of our hotel and we drove the short distance to the airport. At 09.00 am we flew to Bagan where we touched down at 10.00 am. After dropping our stuff at our hotel (Sky Palace) we immediately went birding. When we drove of the terrain of our hotel, the car came to an abrupt halt as next to the car we saw our first endemic, 2 White-throated Babblers.
After a short drive we started to bird in the scrubby habitat around the huge temple complex of Bagan. We started in the area around a temple called Sistyana Paya. Despite the heat, the area was still very birdy. It was quite an experience to bird and stroll through this magic area of acacia woodland and scrub, dominated by hundreds of temples.

Acacia woodland, scrub and temples in the Bagan area.

The endemic Burmese Bush Lark was quickly located and in the course of the next hour we observed Crested Goshawk, Burmese Shrike, Purple Sunbird, Plainbacked Sparrow, Siberian Rubythroat, Taiga Flycatcher, Streak-eared Bulbul, Wire-tailed Swallow, a whole set of wintering warblers like Pale-legged LeafWarbler, Greenish Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Tickell’s Warbler, Yellowstreaked Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler and Thick-billed Warbler.
And then Ko Pan heard the call of another endemic target of the area, Jerdon’s Minivet.
After a few minutes of searching we had great views of a pair of this species.


Jerdon’s Minivet & White-throated Babbler

Suddenly I discovered a small quail, scurrying in the vegetation and soon we had our first views of many of a Rain Quail. Rain Quail is not very rare at this time of the year in the Bagan area, but getting unobscured views is another thing, let alone photographing one. Barred Button Quail was also seen in the same area. After a lunch break and a short siesta we birded a different area near Bagan.
Our main target was the uncommon Hooded Treepie. Only a few pairs of this endemic species are present around Bagan. At one time we heard the species but we were unable to locate it. But we did have good views of the Burmese Collared Dove, a very distinctive bird with its obvious yellow eye-ring. We also added Yellow-eyed Babblers and plenty of more White-throated Babblers.
With 4 of our 5 targets in the bag we returned to our hotel.


Rain Quail & Burmese Collared Dove

Day 3: Tuesday 28 February

After an early breakfast we were back in the field again, just after dawn.
A large fruiting tree held many Vinous-breasted Starlings. More views of Rain Quail and Jerdon’s Minivet.
Suddenly Hooded Treepie was heard again and this time we succeeded in having great views of a pair. A pair of Spotted Owlet gave also nice views in broad daylight.


Hooded Treepie & Burmese Bushlark

Peter spotted a Blunt-winged Warbler, which I was able to photograph.
We then visited the temple of Sulimani Phato where normally one has a good chance of observing a Laggar Falcon on its roof, but as they are renovating this temple, the birds have moved to another site. A single Himalayan Buzzard circled above the temple. We also visited some of the highlights of the Bagan temple complex before having lunch. In the afternoon we made a boat trip on the Irrawaddy River. During our walk on a large sandy shore and in the grassy dunes next to it, we found Plaintive Cuckoo, Whitetailed Stonechat, Sand Lark, Small Pratincole, White Wagtail (leucopsis) and Red Avadavat.
From the boat we saw Black-eared Kite, Ruddy Shellduck, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Pacific Plover, Kentisch Plover and Little Ringed Plover, Pied Kingfisher and Grey-throated Sand-Martin.

Irrawaddy River


Small Pratincole & White-tailed Stonechat

Day 4: Wednesday 1 March

Today we travelled from Bagan to the village of Kanpetlet, from where we would bird Mount Victoria. A few years ago you needed 4x4 vehicles to do this trip but nowadays the road has been improved significantly and can be done in a normal saloon car or minivan. It takes around 8 to 9 hours with some birding stops to reach Kanpetlet.
In the early morning we made a birding stop in a very dry area with only scarce vegetation, not far from Bagan, called Kazunma, which is supposed to be a reliable site for the Yamthini subspecies of Long-billed Pipit. We did not have any difficulty locating this species. During a stroll we also recorded Wryneck and more Burmese Bushlarks. We then continued and made an extensive stop at some fruiting trees in the deciduous forest. Here we observed our target Finch’s or Grey-headed Parakeet together with Red-breasted Parakeets, Rufous Treepie and a few Chestnut-tailed Starlings.


Long-billed Pipit & Grey-headed Parakeet

We had a lunch break at a small restaurant and here, as it later turned out, Peter and I took the wrong salad. After lunch we continued to a nice forest patch around the 62 km marker. White-rumped Falcon is regularly seen in this area. We did not see much and continued to Kantemplet where we arrived just before dusk at Pine Wood Villas. It is situated at an altitude of around 1800 m. at the foot of Mount Victoria.
The next 5 days we would bird from this base the mountain at various altitudes from 1800 to 2800 meters. Mount Victoria is an extension of the Himalayas and several restricted range endemics can be found on this mountain, including the famous Whitebrowed Nuthatch.
We made a short stroll around the compound and at the edge of a scrubby field, just below the compound we saw twice a Striped Laughingthrush.
Ko Pan got news that last week a Hodgson’s Frogmouth called just outside the restaurant of Pine Wood Villa. But we had nothing.
It was this night that Frans was confronted with a rat in his bed and bitten by it.

Day 5: Thursday 2 March

We had breakfast at 06.00 am and we discussed with Ko Pan what action should we undertake in regard to the bite, inflicted by the rat. We would have liked to consult home but there was no connection on the mountain. Instead we drove to the “hospital” of Kantemplet, where already a doctor was waiting for us. He assured us that there were no recent cases of rabies in the area, which was our major concern. He gave Frans an injection against tetanus and disease of Weil and some antibiotics. At 08.30 am we started the drive up the mountain towards the top. I was not feeling very well and Peter was really sick and could hardly walk. We started to bird the area a few km before the top in the oak and Rhododendron forest and then drove over the top/pass and down a few km.
During our first stop in the early morning we had nice views of an obliging Aberrant Bush Warbler, shortly followed by excellent views of a Brown Bush-Warbler. We then continued to the other side of the pass where the habitat is more open pine forest. This was a really beautiful and undisturbed area.

Mount Victoria, site of White-browed Nuthatch

It did not take long before we laid eyes on our main target, the beautiful White-browed Nuthatch. This bird turned out to be rather common at the higher levels of Mount Victoria. We also bumped into a nice flock of larger species in which we discovered a pair of Purple Cochoa’s, which gave great views. We spent some time in this stretch and observed in short time a single Himalayan Cutia, a male Black-headed ShrikeBabbler, Grey Sibia and Stripe-breasted Woodpecker.
Then Peter crashed completely and we decided that the car would transport him down to Pine Wood Villa so he could take a rest. Meanwhile we birded the area on foot and saw 2 new species of laughingthrush, Brown-capped Laughingthrush and Assam Laughingthrush.


White-browed Nuthatch & Burmese Bush Tit

We had lunch in the field and when the car returned we drove a few km further for some more exploration. In the course of the day we observed nest building Golden-throated Barbets, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Green Shrike-Babbler, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Long-tailed Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Maroon Oriole, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Bronzed Drongo, Hume’s Treecreeper, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Blue-fronted Redstart, Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush and Himalayan Bluetail. Flycatchers were well presented by Verditer Flycatcher, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Little Pied Flycatcher and Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher. Sultan Tit showed nicely and on the warbler front we observed Whistler’s Warbler, Davison’s Warbler, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Two-barred Leaf-Warbler, a single Buff-throated Warbler, Buff-barred Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler. Stripe-throated Yuhina and Whiskered Yuhina were not uncommon as were Whitebrowed Fulvettas and Rufous-winged Fulvettas.
Streak-throated Barwing and Rusty-fronted Barwing were also seen without difficulty and in the afternoon we bumped into our first Mount Victoria Babax and a flock of endemic Burmese Tits.
Late afternoon we drove back down. Peter had slept most of the day and was feeling better, luckily. The next couple of days he did not eat much but he recovered completely.

Day 6: Friday 3 March

This time we drove up the mountain at dawn. We basically birded the same areas as yesterday. Most species, missed by Peter the previous day, were seen again today. As most days we had lunch on the mountain so we could bird all day without losing time. Additions to our list today were our first Yellow-breasted Greenfinches in the early morning. Great views again of several Mount Victoria Babax, together with Streakbreasted Scimitar Babblers. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker was surprisingly common today and in the end we probably saw around 10 different birds! Darjeeling Woodpecker and Bay Woodpeckers were also added to our woodpecker list. A pair of Black-headed Shrike-Babblers gave good views in the canopy. Beside Hume’s Treecreeper we saw our first Bar-tailed Treecreeper. A male Large Niltava bumped into view while we were trying to coax an Elachura into view. A few blue and orange flycatchers puzzled us in the beginning but turned out to be Pygmy Blue Flycatchers. Near the pass we observed Dark-sided Flycatcher. Broad-billed Warbler was only heard but we had nice views of Grey-hooded Warbler and Ashy-throated Warbler. We took a nice small trail which went down to connect again with the main track after a kilometre or so. This track passes through a nice tract of bamboo and I was the lucky one to observe briefly 1 of 2/3 Buff-breasted Parrotbills, moving fast through the bamboo. Chestnut-flanked White-eye and Japanese White-eye were seen in the course of the day. Late afternoon we birded at a lower elevation and here we found a few Black-bibbed Tits. This species is only occurring in Myanmar and just over the border in China and not very common. In the same area we briefly saw 2 Black-throated Prinias and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers.

Day 7: Saturday 4 March

Early morning was again spent on the mountain, but we decided to bird the lower areas in the afternoon, mainly to try for Chin Hills Wren-Babbler. During our morning birding session, Peter discovered a Spot-breasted Parrotbill flying low over a bamboo patch in which it suddenly disappeared. This happened several times and the bird probably bred in this patch. The bird only perched and showed briefly before it dived down again in the bamboo. We observed also briefly our only Grey-sided Thrush of the trip but no sign of Brown Bullfinch at a favourable area for this species according to Ko Pan. In a gulley a nice male Snowy-browed Flycatcher gave good views. It took a while but finally we had good views of a taped in Chestnut-headed Tesia. Around noon we had lunch at Pine Wood Villa for a change and in the afternoon we birded the so-called “Frogmouth Trail”, roughly 1½ km up the road from Pine Wood Villa. Several Chin Hills Wren-Babblers were heard but it took a while before we all had reasonable views of one. On our way out we observed a female White-bellied Redstart and a Pygmy Cupwing. But not a sniff of Blue-winged Laughingthrush or Spotbreasted Scimitar-Babbler, 2 other targets along this trail. No Frogmouth in the evening either.

Day 8: Sunday 5 March

We decided to try for Scarlet-faced Liocichla and Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler in the early morning in the scrub at the edge of some agriculture fields, close to Pine Wood Villa. We had reasonable views of the Liocichla when a pair eventually came in after some time, but the Scimitar Babbler was only distantly heard. Instead, a couple of Striped Laughingthrushes gave very good views. We then birded the Frogmouth Trail again and here we bumped into a male White-bellied Redstart which unfortunately only gave brief views. A second attempt for Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler was almost successful as the bird came in and called very close from us in the scrub but in the end did not show. Rather frustrating. But Broad-billed Warbler was seen very well and also the Chin Hills Wren-Babbler showed much better than yesterday. In the early evening we birded the Frogmouth Trail again, mainly to try for the Frogmouth. We heard one briefly but then the bird fell silent. Grey Nightjar was heard several times.

Day 9: Monday 6 March

Again the whole day was spent on the mountain. We first drove over the pass, down a few kilometres on the other side, where we birded the same trail down where we had the Buff-breasted Parrotbill a few days earlier. As soon as we left the car, Peter spotted a Thrush high up in a tree. We all had good views of this thrush, which turned out to be a Long-tailed Thrush. Spot-winged Grosbeak showed nicely along the trail but we spent most of our time at a nice patch of bamboo to try for Buff-breasted Parrotbill. And we were lucky as a few birds showed up but it was not easy to obtain good views of them as they constantly moved fast through the scrub and the bamboo. In the end we all had brief views of one of these birds. Other species encountered along the trail was our second Broad-tailed Warbler and unbelievable close and lengthy views of a pair of very cooperative Chin Hills WrenBabblers. Other additions were a few Chestnut-crowned Warblers, Rusty-capped Fulvettas and a seicercus warbler with very obvious white spectacles. After lunch we birded back along the track to the pass. At a gully we observed both Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler and Grey-bellied Tesia. When we checked some secluded wet gullies we came upon some horrible sights. Local people had placed lime-twigs with heavy, sticky glue, strategically in these gullies. We found several White-browed Warblers and Buff-barred Warblers stuck to these sticks and doomed to die in a not so very nice way. I put several of them out of their misery but succeeded to free a Buff-barred Warbler, which was just caught with the tip of one of his feet. Of course we destroyed all the sticks we could find! We also checked the area where we had Purple Cochoa earlier in the trip and to our amazement we again found a male Purple Cochoa. We were distracted by a couple of Yellow-throated Marters, chasing each other up to the track. Again a Black-headed Shrike Babbler showed and then we drove down to Kanpetlet. We discussed in the evening our plan for early next morning. We could either drove down before dawn to the deciduous forest and bird that area, which would increase our chances to observe White-rumped Falcon and some more common species or we could bird the area just below Pine Wood Villa to try again for views of Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler. We opted for the latter. Then we got news that a Hodgson’s Frogmouth called just below our accommodation. We tried to tape the bird in but it fell silent. When I played a different call the bird responded immediately, flew in and could be observed in the spotlight for as long as we wanted.

Day 10: Tuesday 7 March

Just after dawn we birded for an hour the scrub, just below Pine Wood Villa. But not a sniff of the Scimitar Babbler. We did not even hear one. We then started our journey back towards Bagan. During the day we made some birding stops but frankly we did not find much. Late afternoon we birded around Bagan again and I was successful in photographing Rain Quail in an area where we had seen them before.

Day 11: Wednesday 8 March

After breakfast we drove to the airport and after a short delay, we flew to Heho. After collecting our stuff we drove to a nearby restaurant where we had an excellent lunch. After lunch we continued to our hotel, at the shore of Inle Lake. (Hupin Khaung Daing) After a short rest on our veranda, with beautiful views of the lake, we walked down to the jetty and boarded our longboat for our afternoon birding session. We travelled to a nice quiet canal, where we quickly located our first of many Jerdon’s Bushchats. At a specific site we left our boat for a thorough exploration of the area. Indian Reed Warbler and Striated Babbler were common. Our main target was the Chinese Grass-Babbler. When we finally found the bird, I was just too far away, photographing Jerdon’s Bushchat and as a result I missed it. Eastern Marsh-Harriers were patrolling the reed beds and when we left the area, Ko Pan suddenly discovered some Collared Mynas in a flock of Mynas on their way to their night-time roost. But flight views only. In the evening an Asian Barred Owlet just called outside of our room and after a few minutes we had good views of the bird. During dinner we decided to bird the same area again in the early morning, next day, to try for better views of the Grassbird.

Day 12: Thursday 9 March

Just after dawn we were again on our way to the site of the Chinese Grassbird. And this time we had great views of a pair. A skulking Baikal Bush Warbler eventually showed also nicely. After this success we crossed over to the other side of the lake, to a village where we visited a colony of Openbill Storks and egrets. We also birded the edge of some fields adjacent of this village, where sometimes Collared Mynas are observed. We had a coffee at a lodge and then we travelled through the floating villages, mainly searching for Collared Mynas. We had lunch in one of the villages and in the afternoon we restarted our search. It took a while but finally we connected with a few individuals at the edge of the lake. We returned to our hotel, where we collected our luggage and left for our drive to the hill station of Kalaw. In Kalaw we drove to the Pine Hill Resort and we immediately started to bird the scrubby garden behind our hotel. Black-collared Starling, a few Black-headed Greenfinches, Brown Prinia were some of the species encountered. In the evening Frans received a phone call from The Netherlands from the medical department of his insurance company. They strongly advised him to take the first flight to Yangon next morning, to go to the Victoria Hospital and get injections against rabies. Frans was of course very surprised to receive this message and naturally not amused. But in the end he decided to follow this strong advice.

Day 13: Friday 10 March

In the early morning Ko Pan accompanied Frans to the airport and put him on the first flight available to Yangon. A taxi was waiting for him and drove him to the hospital for his injections. Mr.Moe took care of him during his stay in Yangon. Before 09.00 am Ko Pan was back at the hotel. Peter and I meanwhile birded in the garden of our hotel. 3 Crested Honey-Buzzards, accompanied by a Peregrine Falcon circled above our hotel. With Ko Pan we drove to a site where we observed Neglected Nuthatch and then we went to the start of the trail, which winds through a nice, forested valley to the Yayayekan reservoir. I refer to this trail in the text as the trail at Kalaw. At the edge of the fields we quickly located a Black-tailed Crake before we entered the valley. We had a very enjoyable morning along this trail, until it started to rain at 13.00 pm. In a fruiting tree we observed both Yellow-footed Green Pigeon and Pin-tailed Green Pigeon. Further along the trail we observed a single Silver-breasted Broadbill. Slender-billed Oriole and Maroon Oriole showed nicely and we added Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike and Orange-bellied Leafbird to our list. Black-throated Sunbird was common and at the edge of the forest we saw a single Grey-backed Shrike. But our main target was the scarce (near) endemic Burmese Yuhina. It took a while but suddenly we heard the calls and luckily we had brief views of 2 birds. Other species encountered along the trail included a single Black-backed Forktail, Verditer Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Yellow-cheeked Tits, Ashy Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Himalayan Black Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Marten’s Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Davison’s Warbler, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, 2 Hume’s Warblers and Yellow-browed Warbler. On our way back we saw White-browed Scimitar Babbler, a HO Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Siva, Silver-eared Mesia, a brief Dark-backed Sibia, Golden Babbler, Puff-throated Babbler and Striated Babbler. Just before we reached our car it started to rain. We decided to drive back to Kalaw and we had a very nice lunch at an Italian restaurant. Ko Pan had told us that he regularly saw Dark-rumped Swift at a ridge, close to Kalaw. I knew that Dutch birder Remco Hofland also saw the swift with Ko Pan at this site in December 2016. So when the rain ceased we took our chances and drove up the mountain along a wide dirt track, while the skies started to darken again. Normally Ko Pan observes the species late afternoon but we arrived at the spot around 15.00 pm. No sooner had we left the car or we spotted Himalayan Swiftlets and with them several Dark-rumped Swifts, right above our heads. The next 10 minutes we observed them (10-12) racing over the rim and soaring above our heard before they disappeared, never to be seen again. This was the second time I observed this species. In 1998 I saw Dark-rumped Swift at Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya state in India at a cliff where the species breeds. We stayed in the area for another 45 minutes and then it started to rain again heavily and we retreated to our hotel in Kalaw. From the viewpoint we heard Chinese Francolin call, down in the valley. In the evening we visited our favourite Italian Restaurant again for an excellent dinner.

Day 14: Saturday 11 March

We spent another morning on the same trail as yesterday. Again Burmese Yuhina was heard but only Peter and Ko Pan saw them briefly. At the reservoir we observed a male White-capped Redstart. Other notable additions today include Thick-billed Green Pigeon, 2 Arctic Warblers, Spectacled Barwings, Red-headed Trogon, Blue Whistling-Thrush, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker and Black-breasted Thrush. At noon we travelled back to our hotel and in the afternoon we drove to Heho for our flight to Yangon. Close to the airport we made an extensive stop at the edge of a large reservoir with adjacent agriculture fields. To our surprise we found Collared Myna together with White-vented Myna and Chestnut-tailed Starlings in these fields. At 16.00 pm we flew from Heho to Yangon. Here we met Mr. Moe who drove us to our hotel, 7 Mile, in Yangon. Together with Frans we had a last dinner and a short rest on our room. Just after midnight we flew from Yangon to Amsterdam, with a change of flight in Dubai.

Day 15: Sunday 12 March

Arrival at Schiphol Airport at 07.00 am. Took the train to Eindhoven and at 10.30 am I was back home.

Henk Hendriks
hhendriks@onsmail.nl

SHORT ITINERARY

Day 1: February 26 Arrival Yangon from Bangkok. Hlawga Park in afternoon
Day 2: February 27 Flight Yangon – Bagan. Bagan area.
Day 3: February 28 Bagan area. Irrawaddy River cruise afternoon.
Day 4: March 1 Drive Bagan – Kanpetlet.
Day 5: March 2 Mount Victoria
Day 6: March 3 Mount Victoria
Day 7: March 4 Mount Victoria
Day 8: March 5 Mount Victoria
Day 9: March 6 Mount Victoria
Day 10: March 7 Drive Kanpetlet – Bagan
Day 11: March 8 Flight Bagan – Heho. Inle Lake in afternoon.
Day 12: March 9 Inle Lake in the morning. Afternoon drive to Kalaw.
Day 13: March 10 Kalaw area.
Day 14: March 11 Kalaw area in the morning. Afternoon drive Kalaw – Heho and afternoon flight Heho – Yangon.
Day 15: March 12 Early morning flight Yangon – Dubai – Amsterdam.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF OBSERVATIONS

Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus
10-03: 3 heard near Kalaw.
Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica
27-02: 2 Bagan area.
28-02: 20+ Bagan area.
7-03: 20+ Bagan area.
Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola
3-03: Heard near the pass, Mount Victoria.
Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis
3-03: Heard at Mount Victoria.
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
10/11-03: Heard near Kalaw.
Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica
09-03: 200+ at Lake Inle.
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
28-02: 25 to 30 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
28-02: 8 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
09-03: 40+ at Lake Inle.
Garganey Anas querquedula
09-03: 30+ at Lake Inle.
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
09-03: 1 male at Lake Inle.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
09-03: 20 at Lake Inle.
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
26/27-02: common around Yangon.
08/09-03: Very common around Lake Inle.
09-03: we visited a large colony at Lake Inle.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
A total of 5 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
28-02: A single bird along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
09-03: 2 at Lake Inle.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
09-03: A single bird at Lake Inle.
Great Egret Casmerodius alba
Rather common at Lake Inle.
11-03: 10+ between Kalaw – Heho.
Intermediate Egret mesophoyx intermedia
Even higher numbers than previous species at Lake Inle.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Observed on 5 dates, Mainly Bagan area and Lake Inle
Chinese Pond-Heron Ardeola bacchus
Observed on 5 dates. Highest numbers at Lake Inle.
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromadelus
Only observed on 2 dates around Lake Inle.
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
09-03: A single bird at dusk near Lake Inle.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
28-02: 3 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
28-02: 10+ along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Common on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
27-02: 1 near Bagan.
Single birds on 2 dates at Mount Victoria.
10-03: 3 near Kalaw.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
A total of 17 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Black Kite Milvus migrans
26-02: 2 at Yangon.
Black-eared Kite Milvus lineatus
A total of 5 on 2 dates in the Bagan area.
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
26-02: A single bird near Yangon.
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
01-03: 1 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
07-03: 1 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
11-03: 2 near Kalaw.
Eastern Marsh-Harriër Circus spilonotus
01-03: 1 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
A total of 9 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Hen Harriër Circus cyaneus
09-03: 1 near Lake Inle.
Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
27-02: 1 near Bagan.
2 single observations on 2 dates at Mount Victoria.
Shikra Accipiter badius
07-03: 1 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
09-03: 1 between Lake Inle and Kalaw.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
07-03: 2 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
07-03: 3 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Himalayan Buzzard Buteo refectus
A total of 11 on 7 dates.
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis
Single birds on 2 dates at Mount Victoria.
Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis
02-03: A single bird at Mount Victoria.
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
27-02: 2 near Bagan.
01-03: 1 near Kazumna.
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
10-03: 1 at Kalaw.
Black-tailed Crake Zapornia bicolor
10-03: heard and 1 seen very well at Kalaw.
Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus
09-03: 10+ at Lake Inle.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
09-03: 10+ at Lake Inle.
Common Coot Fulica atra
09-03: Common at Lake Inle.
Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
A total of 8 on 2 dates in the Bagan area. Some very nice views.
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
28-03: 3 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
26-02: Common at Yangon.
09-03: 20 at Lake Inle.
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
28-03: 4 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
28-03: 10+ along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrines
28-03: 2 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
09-03: 30+ at Lake Inle.
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
A total of 5 on 2 dates near Lake Inle.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
28-02: 4 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
28-02: 1 at cattle pool, Bagan.
07-03: 1 at another cattle pool, Bagan.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
09-03: 4 near Lake Inle.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
28-02: 1 near Bagan.
Small Pratincole Glareola lacteal
28-02: 50+ along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Brown-headed Gull Croicocephalus brunnicephalus
Common around Lake Inle.
Ashy Woodpigeon Columba pulchricollis
06-03: 1 seen well in flight, high up Mount Victotia.
Burmese Collared Dove Streptopelia [decaocto] xanthocyclus endemic
A total of 40 on 2 dates in the Bagan area.
Red-collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
26-02: 4 at Yangon, Hlawga Park.
Spotted Dove Streptopleia chinensis
Observed.
Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra
11-03: 4 along the trail at Kalaw.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus
A total of 3 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Pin-tailed Green Pigeon Treron apicauda
10-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
07-03: 4 only between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Finch’s (Grey-headed) Parakeet Psittacula finschii
01-03: 30+ between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
07-03: 8 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri
01-03: 6 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
07-03: 6 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparveroides
Daily heard on Mount Victoria and seen twice.
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
26-02: 1 at Hlawga park, Yangon.
28-02: 1 at Bagan.
Asian Koël Eudynamys scolopaceus
Heard only in the Yangon area.
Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis
26-02: 1 at Hlawga park, Yangon.
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
Recorded on 6 dates. Best views at Lake Inle
Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia
Heard on 2 dates at Mount Victoria.
08-03: Heard near our hotel, Lake Inle.
Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei
Heard on 04-03 at Mount Victoria.
Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides
Heard on 02-03 at Mount Victoria.
Heard on 2 dates at Lake Inle and seen very well next to our hotel.
Spotted Owlet Athene brama
28-03: 3 seen in the Bagan area.
Hodgson’s Frogmouth Batrachostomus hodgsoni
05-03: briefly heard at Mount Victoria, close to our cabin.
06-03: Great views of a female in the spotlight, just outside and down of the restaurant
of Pine Wood Villa, Mount Victoria.
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka
Heard on 2 dates at Mount Victoria.
Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris
Observed on 3 dates at Mount Victoria.
A total of 26 – 30 on 2 dates in the Kalaw area.
Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
07-03: 4 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
A total of 14 on 2 dates in the Kalaw area.
Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
Common around Bagan.
Dark-rumped Swift Apus acuticauda
10-03: 10-12 on a ridge, above Kalaw.
House Swift Apus nipalensis
26-02: 4 at Yangon.
28-02: 3 in the Bagan area.
Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronate
28-02: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
06-03: 2 lower area of Mount Victoria.
Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus
11-03: 1 male along the trail at Kalaw.
Black-billed Roller Coracias [benghalensis] affinis
26-02: 1 at Hlawga park, Yangon.
A total of 10 on 3 dates around Bagan.
07-03: 2 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
28-02: 2 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
09-03: 3 at Lake Inle.
11-03: 1 at reservoir, Kalaw.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
A total of 4 on 3 dates at Bagan.
08-03: 3 near Lake Inle.
11-03: 1 near Kalaw.
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
28-02: 3 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
26-02: 10+ at Hlawga Park, Yangon.
Common around Bagan.
09-03: 2 near Lake Inle.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
27-02: 4 at Bagan.
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops
A total of 7 on 3 dates around Bagan.
Great Barbet Psilopogon virens
Daily heard at Mount Victoria. Many nice views.
Also daily heard in the Kalaw area.
Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus
01-03: 3 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
02-03: 2 near Kanpetlet.
Golden-throated Barbet Psilopogon franklinii
Heard on 3 dates at Mount Victoria.
02-03: very good views of 2 birds, nest building at Mount Victoria.
Blue-throated Barbet Psilopogon asiaticus
Heard on 3 dates at Mount Victoria.
02-03: 1 seen at Mount Victoria.
11-03: 1 seen in the Kalaw area.
Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus
A total of 6 seen on 5 dates and also commonly heard. Not in the Mount Victoria area.
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla
01-03: 2 at Kazumna, between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus
03-03: No less than 10 were observed on Mount Victoria.
04+06-03: 1 + 3 on Mount Victoria.
Grey-capped (Pygmy)Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus
02-03: 1 at Mount Victoria.
11-03: 1 along the trail at Kalaw.
Stripe-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos atratus
Single birds on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Crimson-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos cathpharius
02-03: 1 on Mount Victoria.
Darjeeling Woodpecker Dendrocopos darjellensis
Single birds on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus
01-03: 1 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Common Flameback Dinopium javanense
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
07-03: Heard between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis
03-03: 1 on Mount Victoria.
Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus
10-03: 1 along the trail at Kalaw.
Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike Hemipus picatus
A total of 3 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus
11-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
Common around Bagan.
10-03: 1 at Kalaw.
Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei
07-03: 1 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Black-winged Cuckooshrike Lalage melaschistos
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
06-03: Heard near Pine Wood Villa, Mount Victoria.
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
01-03: 3 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Jerdon’s Minivet Pericrocotus albifrons endemic
27-02: 8 in the Bagan area.
28-02: Heard in the Bagan area but no effort were made to track them down.
Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus
A total of 14 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus
A total of 10 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
A total of 17 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristata
28-02: 2 in the Bagan area.
07-03: 1 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
09-03: 4 between Inle and Kalaw.
Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides
A total of 12 on 3 dates in the Bagan area.
10/11-03: a breeding pair was present on the hotel grounds of Pine Hill resort, Kalaw.
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
Single birds near Pine Wood Villa, Mount Victoria on 2 dates.
A total of 6 on 2 dates near Kalaw.
Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus
10-03: 1 near Kalaw.
Black-headed Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius rufiventer
A total of 4 (3 males and 1 female) on 3 dates on Mount Victoria. Excellent views.
Blyth’s Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius aeralatus
A total of 7 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Green Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius xanthochloris
A total of 6 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Black-eared Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius melanotis
02-03: 2 on Mount Victoria.
Slender-billed Oriole Oriolus tenuirostris
A total of 3 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
A total of 9 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
08-03: 1 near Lake Inle.
Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
01-03: 2 males between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii
A total of 9 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
A total of 10 along the trail at Kalaw.
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
Observed.
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
Observed.
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
A total of 3 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer
05-03: 2 on Mount Victoria, along the so-called Frogmouth Trail.
10-03: 4 along the trail at Kalaw.
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
A total of 6 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
A total of 5 on 2 dates along the trailat Kalaw.
Yellow-bellied Fantail Chelidorhynx hypoxantha
A total of 25 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis
A total of 5 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
A total of 3 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
11-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone affinis
11-03: 7 along the trail at Kalaw.
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
07-03: 4 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae
03-03: Heard on Mount Victoria.
05-03: 1 along the Frogmouth Trail, Mount Victoria.
Hooded Treepie Crypsirina cucullata Near-Threatened - endemic
27-02: Heard in the Bagan area but no views.
28-02: Great views of a pair in the Bagan area.
House Crow Corvus splendens
Observed around Bagan but probably overlooked.
Eastern Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
Observed.
Black-bibbed Tit Poecile hypermelaenus
03-03: 4 on Mount Victoria. Some good views of this range-restricted species.
Japanese Tit Parus minor
A total of 11 on 3 dates in the Kalaw area.
Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus
A total of 6 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria, mostly near Pine Wood Villa.
Yellow-cheeked Tit machlolophus spilonotus
A total of 10 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea
02-03: 2 on Mount Victoria.
Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus
03-03: A single bird on Mount Victoria.
Burmese Bushlark Mirafra microptera endemic
Common in the Bagan area.
Sand Lark Alaudala raytal
28-02: 3 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Crested Finchbill Spizixos canifrons
Common on Mount Victoria, daily recorded.
A total of 8 on 2 dates in the Kalaw area.
Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus
Up to 10 daily on Mount Victoria.
Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris
27/28-02: Common around Bagan.
A total of 5 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
11-03: 10+ along the trail at Kalaw.
Flavescent Bulbul Pycnonotus flavescens
A total of 20 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
A total of 8 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
10-03: 10 near Kalaw.
Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi ssp.
Common around Bagan. This is the subspecies with an obvious red eye.
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
26-02: Common at Hlawga park, Yangon.
01-03: 4 near Kanpetlet.
Common around Lake Inle and Kalaw.
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
A total of 18 on 3 dates around Bagan.
Common around Lake Inle and Kalaw.
Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii
A total of 22 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
A total of 16 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala
A total of 4 along the trail at Kalaw.
Himalayan Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus
A total of 20 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Grey-throated Sand-Martin Riparia chinensis
28-02: 20 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Common at Lake Inle.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Recorded on 6 dates.
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
27-02: 10 near Bagan.
09-03: 2 Lake Inle.
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
08-03: 1 Lake Inle.
Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus
A total of 50 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
Scaly-breasted Cupwing (Wren-Babbler) Pnoepyga albiventer
06-03: Heard and 1 seen in a gully on Mount Victoria.
Pygmy Cupwing Pnoepyga pusilla
04-03: 1 seen along the Frogmouth Trail, Mount Victoria.
Broad-billed Warbler Tickellia hodgsoni
03-03: Heard on Mount Victoria.
04/05-03: a total of 3 birds seen on Mount Victoria. Some great views.
Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler Horornis fortipes
Regularly heard on 5 dates on Mount Victoria. At least 3 birds seen well.
Aberrant Bush-Warbler Horornis flavolivaceus
Single birds seen on 2 dates aon Mount Victoria.
Grey-bellied Tesia Tesia cyaniventer
06-03: Heard and seen in a gully on Mount Victoria.
Slaty-bellied Tesia Tesia olivea
Heard on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
11-03: 1 briefly seen along this trail.
Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata
Heard on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Single birds seen on 2 dates.
Red-crowned (Black-throated) Tit Aegithalos concinnus
A total of 11 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria. Ssp. manipurensis
10-03: 1 along the trail at Kalaw. Ssp. pulchellus.
Burmese Bushtit Aegithalos sharpei endemic
A total of 27 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus
A total of 20 on 20 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Davison’s Warbler Phylloscopus davisoni
Daily observed on Mount Victoria.
A total of 12 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides
Daily observed on Mount Victoria.
A total of 7 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
11-03: 4-5 along the trail at Kalaw.
Pale-legged Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes
27/28-02: 5 in the acacia woodland and scrub around Bagan.
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
27-02: a single bird in the acacia woodland and scrub around Bagan.
Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus
A total of 6 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
10-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis
A total of 8 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher
Common and daily observed on Mount Victoria.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus iornatus
Recorded on 11 dates.
Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei
10-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Tickell’s Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus affinis
27-02: 10+ in the acacia woodland and scrub around Bagan.
Yellow-streaked Warbler Phylloscopus armandii
27-02: 8 in the acacia woodland and scrub around Bagan.
05-03: a single bird near Kanpetlet.
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus
Recorded on 7 dates.
Buff-throated Warbler Phylloscopus subaffinis
27-02: 2 in the acacia woodland and scrub around Bagan.??
02-03: a single bird on Mount Victoria.
Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos
A total of 20 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Bianchi’s Warbler Seicercus valentine
05-03: a single bird identified on Mount Victoria.
Whistler’s Warbler Seicercus whistleri
02-03: 2 observed on Mount Victoria.
Marten’s Warbler Seicercus omeiensis
A total of 30 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
White-spectacled Warbler Seicercus affinis
06-03: 1 observed on Mount Victoria.
Chestnut Crowned Warbler Seicercus castaneiceps
06-03: 3 observed on Mount Victoria.
Black-browed Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
08-03: Heard at Lake Inle.
09-03: 1 seen at Lake Inle.
Blunt-winged Warbler Acrocephalus concinens
28-02: 1 observed near Bagan.
Indian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus brunnescens
08/09-03: Heard and seen at Lake Inle.
Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon
A total of 7 on 2 dates near Bagan.
Spotted Bush-Warbler Locustella thoracica
09-03: Heard and poorly seen at Lake Inle.
Baikal Bush-Warbler Locustella davidi
09-03: Heard and very good views of 1 at Lake Inle.
Brown Bush-Warbler Locustella luteoventris
Heard on 3 dates at Mount Victoria and 1 seen well on 02-03.
Russet Bush-Warbler Locustella mandelli
05-03: Only heard at Mount Victoria.
Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris
A total of 7 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Chinese Grassbird Graminicola striatus
08-03: 2 seen at Lake Inle but missed by me.
09-03: Excellent views of 1 in the same area as the previous day.
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
28-02: 10+ along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
10-03: Heard near Kalaw.
Black-throated Prinia Prinia atrogularis
03-03: 2 observed at Mount Victoria.
Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii
A total of 8 on 2 dates in the Bagan area.
01-03: 6 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris
A total of 15 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
Common around Bagan.
09-03: 3 at the edge of Lake Inle.
Brown Prinia Prinia polychroa
A total of 3 on 2 dates in the Bagan area.
09/10-03: a breeding pair was present in the scrubby habitat near our hotel Pine Hill
resort in Kalaw.
Common Tailorbird Orthomus sutorius
26-02: 4 near Hlagwa park, Yangon.
A total of 7 on 2 dates in the Bagan area.
10-03: 1 near Kalaw.
Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler Megapomatorhinus erythrogenys
10-03: Heard along the trail at Kalaw.
Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Megapomatorhinus mcclellandi
Frustratingly only heard on 2 dates, just near Pine Wood Villa, Mount Victoria.
On 05-03 we came very close but the bird refused to show itself.
White-browed Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps
A total of 4 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
10-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis
A total of 11 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Elachura (Spotted Wren-Babbler) Elachura formosus
Heard on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
Chin Hill’s Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis oatesi endemic
Heard and seen on 2 dates along the Frogmouth Trail, Mount Victoria.
06-03: Absolutely astonishing views of a pair along a small trail, high on the Victoria
Mountain.
Golden Babbler Cyanoderma chrysaeum
05-03: 6 along the Frogmouth Trail, Mount Victoria.
10-03: 1 along the trail at Kalaw.
Rufous-fronted Babbler Cyanoderma rufifrons
05-03: Heard along the Frogmouth Trail, Mount Victoria.
Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Mixornis gularis
Heard on 2 dates at Mount Victoria.
Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata
A total of 7 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Rufous-winged Fulvetta Schoeniparus castaneceps
A total of 44 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus ssp.ripponi
Up to 10 daily on Mount Victoria.
Rusty-capped Fulvetta Schoeniparus dubia ssp.mandelli
06-03: 2 on Mount Victoria.
Yunnan (Grey-cheeked) Fulvetta Fulvetta yunnanensis
04-03: 2 on Mount Victoria.
10-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Nepal Fulvetta Alcippe nipalensis
05-03: 4 on Mount Victoria.
Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps
10-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps
11-03: 4 along the trail at Kalaw.
Striated Babbler Turdoides earlei
A total of 10 on 2 dates around Kalaw.
White-throated Babbler Turdoides gularis endemic
Common in the acacia woodland and scrub around Bagan.
Also seen on our hotel grounds and in town itself.
Mount Victoria Babax Babax lanceolatus endemic
A total of 20 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
Striped Laughingthrush Trochalopteron virgatum
A total of 10 on 4 dates, lower areas of Mount Victoria.
Brown-capped Laughingthrush Trochalopteron austeni
A total of 33 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Assam Laughingthrush Trochalopteron chrysopterum
A total of 36 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Silver-eared Laughingthrush Trochalopteron melanostigma
10-03: poor and brief views of 2 birds along the trail at Kalaw.
Crimson-faced Liocichla Liocichla phoenicea
A total of 3 on 2 dates just below the Frogmouth Trail, Mount Victoria.
Scarlet-faced Liocichla Liocichla ripponi
11-03: 1 along the trail at Kalaw.
Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris
05-03: 10 on Mount Victoria.
10-03: 10 along the trail at Kalaw.
Himalayan Cutia Cutia nipalensis
02-03: good views of 1 in a flock on Mount Victoria.
04-03: Heard in the same area but no views.
Streak-throated Barwing Actinodura waldeni
A total of 8 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Rusty-fronted Barwing Actinodura egertoni
A total of 16 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Spectacled Barwing Actinodura ramsayi
11-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Bar-throated Minla Actinodura strigula
A total of 30 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta
A total of 13 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Blue-winged Siva Actinodura cyanouroptera
A total of 6 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
10-03: a single bird along the trail at Kalaw.
Grey Sibia Heterophasia gracilis
Commonly and daily observed on Mount Victoria.
Dark-backed Sibia Heterophasia melanoleuca ssp.castanopera
10-03: Heard and 1 briefly seen along the trail at Kalaw.
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense
A total of 13 on 3 dates in the Bagan area.
Spot-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis guttaticollis
04-03: 2 seen in a nice bamboo patch on Mount Victoria.
Buff-breasted Parrotbill Suthora ripponi endemic
03-03: 2/3 briefly seen in large bamboo patch, Mount Victoria.
06-03: 5/6 seen in the same area. Very difficult to obtain unobscured views as the birds
move fast through the bamboo scrub.
Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis
A total of 24 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis
A total of 40 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Burmese Yuhina Yuhina humilis
A total of 4 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus
A total of 4 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
03-03: 6 on Mount Victoria.
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
A total of 7 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis
A total of 13 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Neglected Nuthatch Sitta neglecta
01-03: 1 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
10-03: 1 near Kalaw.
White-tailed Nuthatch Sitta himalayensis
04-03: a single bird on Mount Victoria.
White-browed Nuthatch Sitta victoriae endemic
A total of 25 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Bar-tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana
A total of 8 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Hume’s Treecreeper Certhia manipurensis
A total of 8 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus
Observed near Yangon and Bagan.
White-vented Myna Acridotheres grandis
Common around Lake Inle and Kalaw area.
Collared Myna Acridotheres albocinctus
A total of 9 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
11-03: 11 during a last birding stop near the airport of Heho.
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Common around Bagan and Lake Inle.
Vinous-breasted Starling Acridotheres burmannicus
Common around Bagan.
08-03: 4 near Lake Inle.
11-03: 10 near Heho.
Black-collared Starling Cracupica nigricollis
A total of 10 on 3 dates near Kalaw. Present in our hotel garden.
Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
A total of 30 on 2 dates around Kalaw.
Long-tailed Thrush Turdus dixoni
06-03: An unexpected observation of 1 on Mount Victoria.
Black-breasted Thrush Turdus dissimilis
11-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
Grey-sided Thrush Turdus feae
04-03: a single bird on Mount Victoria was our only observation.
Purple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea
02-03: Great views of a pair on Mount Victoria.
06-03: A male was observed again in the same area on Mount Victoria.
Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
01-03: a single bird between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
A total of 16 on 3 dates around Kalaw.
Pale Blue Flycatcher Cyornis unicolor
05-03: 1 male on Mount Victoria.
11-03: 1 male along the trail at Kalaw.
Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas
11-03: 2 along the trail at Kalaw.
White-tailed Flycatcher Cyornis concretus
05-03: 1 on Mount Victoria.
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus
A total of 8 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Vivid Niltava Niltava vivida
05-03: 1 on Mount Victoria.
Large Niltava Niltava grandis
2 singles on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula hodgsonii
A total of 11 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
11-03: 1 along the trail at Kalaw.
White-gorgetted Flycatcher Anthipes monileger
05-03: 1 on Mount Victoria.
Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra
04-03: 1 male on Mount Victoria.
Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni
A total of 8 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
Slaty Blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor
A total of 5 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla
A total of 8 on 3 dates in the Bagan area.
A total of 16 on 3 dates in the Kalaw area.
Pygmy Blue Flycatcher Muscicapella hodgsoni
03-03: twice a male on Mount Victoria.
Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher Ficedula striophiata
A total of 22 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica
03-03: 2 on Mount Victoria.
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
Single birds on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana
06-03: 1 on Mount Victoria.
White-bellied Redstart Luscinia phaenicuroides
04-03: 1 female seen along the Frogmouth Trail on Mount Victoria.
05-03: Twice a male was seen along the same trail.
Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope
A total of 7 on 2 dates in the acacia woodland and scrub around Bagan.
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
09-03: 2 at Lake Inle.
White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum
11-03: heard along the trail at Kalaw.
Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis
A total of 5 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
White-capped Redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus
11-03: 1 male at the reservoir at the end of the trail at Kalaw.
Himalayan Bluetail Tarsiger rufilatus
A total of 20 on 5 dates on Mount Victoria.
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
09-03: 1 male at the boat jetty, Lake Inle.
Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush Monticola rufiventris
A total of 13 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus
11-03: 1 along the trail at Kalaw.
Black-backed Forktail Enicurus immaculatus
11-03: 1 at the stream along the trail at Kalaw.
Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus
Recorded on 8 dates. Mount Victoria and Kalaw area.
Stejneger’s Stonechat Saxicola stegnegeri
A total of 5 on 2 dates around Lake Inle.
White-tailed Stonechat Saxicola leucurus
28-02: 10+ at our walk on a sand bank, along The Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
Recorded on 7 dates.
Jerdon’s Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni
A total of 20 on 2 dates at Lake Inle.
Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons
01-03: 2 between Bagan and Kanpetlet
Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii
A total of 6 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus
28-02: 6 around Bagan.
01-03: 5 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
Mrs.Gould Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae
A total of 10 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopygia nipalensis
Rather scarce on Mount Victoria.
A total of 4 on 2 dates on Mount Victoria.
Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturate
A total of 14 on 2 dates along the trail at Kalaw.
Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga iginicauda
Common on Mount Victoria.
Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum melanoxanthum
07-03: Good views of 3 ex. of this large flowerpecker on Mount Victoria.
11-03: Also 3 observed along the trail at Kalaw.
Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor
11-03: a single bird near Kalaw.
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus
05-03: 5 on Mount Victoria.
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum
26-02: 2 near Hlagwa Park, Yangon.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Observed around Bagan and Kalaw.
Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus
Common around Bagan.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
28-02: 10 near our hotel, Bagan.
Common around Kalaw, including our hotel grounds.
Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans
A total of 6 on 3 dates on Mount Victoria.
09-03: 2 near Lake Inle.
Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
28-02: a group of 10 along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
16-02: 10 near Hlagwa Park, Yangon.
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
27-02: 10 near Bagan.
07-03: 10 near Bagan.
Up to 20 daily around Kalaw.
Amur Wagtail Motacilla [alba] leucopsis
28-02: 10+ along the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
01-03: 1 between Bagan and Kanpetlet.
11-03: 6 near Kalaw.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
A total of 9 observed on 5 dates. Mount Victoria, Lake Inle and Kalaw area.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis
28-02: 3 near the Irrawaddy River, Bagan.
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola ssp. citreola
09-03: 6 at the edges of Inle Lake.
11-03: 1 near the airport of Heho.
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
Recorded on 11 dates. Very common on Mount Victoria.
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
08-03: 1 seen and heard at Lake Inle.
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewski
28-02: 2 near Bagan.
07-03: 1 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
11-03: 4 near the airport of Heho.
Oriëntal Pipit Anthus rufulus
07-03: 1 between Kanpetlet and Bagan.
09-03: 1 at field at the edge of Lake Inle.
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis ssp. yamethini
01-03: 6 at Kazumna, between bagan and Kanpetlet.
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla
A total of 9 on 4 dates at Mount Victoria.
Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala
09-03: a single bird at edge of Inle Lake.
Black-headed Greenfinch Chloris ambigua
9/10 and 11-03: breeding on hotel grounds of Pine Hill resort, Kalaw.
Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Chloris spinoides
A total of 10 on 4 dates on Mount Victoria.
Spot-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas melanozanthos
06-03: a small flock of 6 on Mount Victoria.
Common Rosefinch Carpadacus erythrinus
A total of 12 on 2 dates in the Kalaw area.