After a cold morning – warm breakfast, we set the blinds at the entrance of a trail, where people got -days before- the unexpected visit of our main target… the Chestnut Thrush…

I first saw this bird in Doi Lang in 2007 and again in 2008, but both winters, far away and getting even further… This year into the blind, the cold was strong but -just after 30 minutes of waiting- a colorful and proud bird showed up and warmed us with its beauty.

What a wonderful emotion… that’s what I love the most of birding!!!… a real accomplishment!!!… after years hoping, finally this awesome Chestnut Thrush was right there, a few meters away, enjoying our mealworms and moving around to give us all kinds of poses and looks for our lenses… simply fantastic!!!

With the incredible accomplishment of the major target, we rolled our blinds without knowing what to go for next… We knew that we wanted some cool little birds on a busy spot -including the second target of our trip-, but there was space for 2 blinds and 3 blinds set from early morning… so, it was obvious we needed to wait and fight for our place next day, early next morning…

My group decided to go up the hills on the pursue of the Black-throated Tit, but I decided to stay and give it a second try for the Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, using the chance for sharing as well with my good friend Gun (from Ban Maka) that was stationed on the hill with a group of friends too.

It wasn’t long before nice birds starting to show, like the good looking Red-faced Liocichlas, that in quick visits, jumping all over got some messy bites of our worms…

I really enjoyed those Liocichlas that normally are hard even to spot…

Another bird present at all times in this spot, was a female Red-flanked Bluetail (known til a bit ago as the Chestnut-flanked Bush-Robin)… she kept coming around in short but showy visits.

The guys came back with stories of the second target of the trip… the Chestnut-headed Tesia showing very well and how the spot was busy for real!!!

Khun Ood decided to set his blind next to mine while the rest of our group when up for a second round with the Chestnut Thrush -yes!… they wanted MORE… a very addictive bird indeed!-…

After a few minutes we stayed quite again, Ood proved to bring us luck and he whispered exited: "flycatcher, flycatcher!!!"… and there he was… a beautiful little fluff of feathers jumping in and out so shy and skittish, making so difficult to catch him on a frame…

While that awesome Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher was coming on flashy flights, the female Bluetail was chasing him away every single time and the afternoon light started to make us wonder if we were ever going to catch anything of the tiny bird… Then, a Sibia ran away the Bluetail and our door got open!

It was already late and light was already poor, but such a beautiful jewel makes everything seem fine and you can only shoot and keep shooting… something for sure will be kept!!!

Another great day in paradise was gone, but the hope of that Tesia, made us dreaming with more of the best to come next morning…

FOURTH PART WILL COME SOON…

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