Birding Doi Inthanon, Thailand

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When: June 2026 Weather: Cool 10-28C

OM1mk2 150-400mm Zuiko and 300mmF4 Zuiko

We flew into Chiangmai and did the drive up to Doi Inthanon after lunch…a 1.5 hour journey. We were staying the the Royal Agricultural Station where there were several refurbished chalets for our group. It was raining when we arrived…it was raining the next morning at the summit…..so be prepared!

These are the chalets in the Royal Agricultural Station on Doi Inthanon….the birding on the grounds were very good and you don’t really need to venture far!
one of th first birds was the striated bulbul which welcomed us
black crested bulbul
spectacular blue throated barbet in the rain
grey treepie
ashy drongo
you can walk to the SiriBhum waterfall from the station….
where the main attraction are the lantern bugs!
green lanternbug
black tipped lantern bug
rather a lot of bugs!
we took a visit to Daeng’s homestay where birders from time immemorial have stayed……there was a charming chiangmai crocodile newt!
with tiny baby newts still in their eggs…
Early the next morning we set off for the visitor centre at the summit of Doi Inthanon…it was cold wet and misty
First bird to show at the toilet(!) was the rufous tailed minla…
a very hazy shot of the silver eared laughing thrush through the mist
Many rufous winged fulvettas were active on the road side
the green tailed sunbird was difficult to shoot
and then in the deep forest trail this male lesser shortwing hopped about
on the way back to the station, we got the splendid large niltava
finally back to the agri station to check out….grey treepie
streaked spiderhunter
Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher
and final bird of our Doi Inthanon excursion was this difficult to shoot yellow cheeked tit…a lifer to end with!

So under 24 hours in Doi Inthanon was time well spent…the weather could have been better but it was still fun…thanks to our guides Drs Nuy and Nong!

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