Myanmar (Burma) Endemics of Remote Asia Trip Report 30th November to 13th December 2014 (13 days) White-browed Nuthatch by Glen Valentine Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth Trip Report - RBT Myanmar (Burma) December 2014 2 Top birds as voted by tour participants: 1. Jerdon’s Minivet 2. Spectacled Barwing 3. Ruddy Shelduck 4. Hooded Treepie 5. Spot-breasted Parrotbill 6. Himalayan Cutia 7. White-rumped Falcon 8. Silver-eared Mesia 9. White-eyed Buzzard 10. Collared Falconet Tour Summary Beginning in the expansive, lowland city of Yangon (Rangoon), a few of us met up and took several short walks from our hotel to some nearby fields where we added a nice selection of common species to our list. These included Crested (Oriental) Honey Buzzard, Blue-tailed and Green Bee-eaters, Asian Palm Swift, stunning White- throated Kingfisher, Coppersmith Barbet, Brown Shrike, Black-naped Oriole, Jungle Myna, Streak- eared Bulbul, Scaly-breasted (Nutmeg) and White- rumped Munia, which were attracted to grasses alongside a small pool of water. It was here that we had good looks at a fairly showy Dusky Shwedagon Pagoda by Glen Valentine Warbler, a migrant from Siberia. After all of the participants met up, our international group of travelers from the USA, South Africa and Australia gathered together for lunch before heading out to the Royal Yacht Club. Here we started our birdlist in earnest adding several new species including Little Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Common Sandpiper, a male Asian Koel, Common and Jungle Mynas and three Black Kites, the latter our only sighting of the tour. A dusk visit to the spectacular Schwedagon Pagoda was thrilling with tens of thousands of bats pouring out into the evening skies. Shortly afterwards we were treated to several aerial displays by Common Kestrel and Peregrine, Bagan temple scene by Glen Valentine grabbing several bats from the swarms. Later as dark fell, we enjoyed a pleasant hour walking around the temple grounds and admiring the intricately sculptured, gold-plated statues and the extensive lighting where many worshippers had come to pray. After an enjoyable evening meal we returned to our hotel. Trip Report - RBT Myanmar (Burma) December 2014 3 Our first full day in the country kicked off with an early morning flight north to the town of Bagan, famous for its thousands of pagodas (temples) strewn across the barren savannah countryside and dating back to the 11th century. At Bagan airport, Plain-backed Sparrows were added to our growing list. We enjoyed the remainder of the morning traversing the area of woodland to the west of the “Old Bagan”, where walking along a quiet country road we noted several new species including Vinous-breasted Starlings, Spotted Dove, Plaintive Cuckoo, the spectacular Eurasian Hoopoe, Burmese Shrike and Red-rumped Swallow. We then headed out across a field where we flushed three Rain Quail and watched as they disappeared over the croplands. It was here that Steve spotted our target bird, seeing a Hooded Treepie fly across a gap in the trees. We quickly headed off in that direction and, after a bit of a search, a pair was located in a dense Acacia tree. After playing hide and seek for several minutes, we eventually obtained great looks at this often difficult to find endemic. After this success, we headed back to the road, first stopping to enjoy a very showy male Siberian Rubythroat, which sat in the open for all to enjoy! Back on the road, a calling Eurasian Wryneck was scoped in a dead tree allowing splendid looks at this cryptically colored species. An enjoyable afternoon boat trip up the Irrawaddy River gave us many new and exciting species such as Ruddy Shelduck, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Striated Babbler, good, close looks at the habitat-restricted Sand Lark, Oriental Skylark, Grey-throated Martins, several showy White- Grey-headed Parakeet by Glen tailed Stonechats and, best of all, small groups of Red Avadavats Valentine including a few stunning males singing at close range. Our next full day was dedicated to finding the last of the dry-country Burmese endemics. After a long search, including brief views of a male by Alf, Steve and Erik, we found a pair and enjoyed close-up views of our final Bagan endemic, the striking Jerdon’s (White- bellied) Minivet. The pair was watched feeding in low scrubby vegetation, allowing excellent looks and photos. With this success, we could now relax and enjoy the rest of the morning birding. Highlights included Black-winged Kite, a flushed Barred Buttonquail, a Spotted Owlet that watched us from a hole in the wall of a pagoda, Eurasian Collared Dove (represented here by a very distinctive subspecies with an all yellow eye-ring), a male Daurian Redstart, Yellow-streaked and Tickell’s Leaf Warblers, several small flocks of Plain-backed Sparrow, Richard’s, Paddyfield (Oriental) and Olive-backed Pipits, and further views of White-throated Babbler and Burmese Bush Lark. Hooded Treepie by Glen Valentine Another major target was quickly located during our afternoon visit to the Salumani Pagoda; a pair of the huge and striking Laggar Falcon, which put on a brilliant aerial display flying to and from the tower. A nearby wetland held several waterbird species including Red-wattled Lapwing, Green, Common and Wood Sandpipers, and both Chinese and Indian Pond Herons. Trip Report - RBT Myanmar (Burma) December 2014 4 Departing early the following morning, we began the long drive west and north to Mt. Victoria in the Chin State. This incredible birding area, which had not been visited by birders for several decades, would be our base for the next five nights. Our first town was Chauk, and from here we drove onto a huge bridge over the Irrawaddy River and on to Kazunma. At a field breakfast alongside the road, Burmese Bush Larks and Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers were noted while we were enjoying tea and sandwiches. Our first stop after breakfast was in the low hills dominated by dry Dipterocarp forest, before the small village of Kazunma. Here we searched for the range-restricted White-rumped Falcon. After a long wait, a male bird was spotted (surprisingly) in a tree alongside the road. Carrying on towards Saw, the occasional birding stop yielded some smart new species like Rufous Treepie, Alexandrine and Blossom-headed Parakeets, Ashy Woodswallow, Large Cuckooshrike and several Mountain Hawk-Eagles. We arrived at our accommodation near the base of Mt. Victoria in the late afternoon and settled into our rooms for the next five nights. Jerdon’s Minivet by Glen Valentine We had four full days ahead of us to explore the bird-rich mountain and all its various habitats and altitudes in search of the many very special and highly prized avian specialties here. Heading up to the summit before dawn, all vehicles had good views of at least two Grey Nightjars flying up and down along the road. On arriving at the summit in time for the dawn chorus, we were soon watching Assam Laughingthrushes and White-browed Fulvettas lurking in the bushes, while a group of four Yellow-billed Blue Magpies showed briefly. From here we walked along the summit road heading back down the south slope, where the vegetation consists of open Oak woodland and bush with open grassy areas. Here we watched small mixed flocks which included Red- tailed Minlas, the endemic Burmese Bushtit, Rufous- gorgeted Flycatcher, Buff-barred and Ashy-throated Warblers, Blue-fronted Redstart…and then we heard the unmistakable call of the endemic White-browed Nuthatch. It wasn’t long before we were all enjoying excellent close looks at one of the most highly prized and sought-after birds on Mt. Victoria. As we watched the bird feeding it was joined by a second bird…fantastic! After lunch, we moved down to a lower elevation, seeing Great and Golden-throated Barbets, Grey Treepie, Grey-sided Thrush by Glen Valentine Hair-crested Drongo, Grey Bush Chat, Black-bibbed Tit and several stunning Fire-tailed Sunbirds in partial winter plumage. After a long day and an excellent start, we finally headed back to our lodge. That evening a search for Hodgson’s Frogmouth produced a calling bird, but no sighting. The following morning we again headed up the mountain before dawn, flushing more Grey Nightjars and also Olive-backed Pipits off the road. Today we birded the North slope, where the forest was thicker and a different array of birds could be found. Our first birds were a flock of Brown-capped Laughingthrush, Trip Report - RBT Myanmar (Burma) December 2014 5 showing very well, and eventually we had good views of Chin Hills and Scaly-breasted Wren-babblers (Cupwing) and a smart pair of Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers. Further down the trail we saw Bar-throated Minlas, the scarce Streak-throated Barwing and Whiskered Yuhinas, while a pair of Spot-breasted Parrotbills showed well but briefly to a few of us. The afternoon was again spent birding at mid-elevations where we recorded Grey-sided and Eye-browed Thrushes, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Long-tailed and Short-billed Minivets, had good looks at Chestnut-headed Tesia and Striated Bulbul, and a male Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker was seen only by Alf. Our local bird guide alerted us to a calling Mt. Victoria Babax, an endemic and recent split from Chinese Babax. After an agonizing few minutes, a group of three birds flew into low bushes below us, giving good looks and allowing walk-away views. In the late afternoon, we searched the forest and farmland opposite our lodge, finding six Red-billed Blue Magpies; stunning birds that put on quite a show.