[ Last edited by wcaptain at 19/04/2016 14:46 ] Author: wcaptain Time: 15/04/2016 11:00
A birding report of a non-birding trip, Myanmar 24 March – 4 Apr 2016
This is a typical sightseeing holiday with my family. We visited popular tourist sites (Yangon, Bagan, Mt Popa and Inle Lake) during the easter holiday in 2016. Famous birding spots were excluded (e.g. Mt Victoria and Kalaw). Birding was generally made around resorts at these areas before breakfast or around sunset. In Bagan, I fortunately got “Notice of No objection” from my wife and can do a whole morning birding. A total of 124 bird species was recorded. Birding info is shown as below
Mountain Popa (Habitat: secondary forest in the dry zone)
I stayed at the Popa Mountain Resort, which is about 750 m high. The secondary forest around the resort was nice. Birding can simply be done at the balcony of some rooms. I got about 30 birds as a whole. Most are common forest birds (e.g Emerald Dove, Slender-billed Oriole, Red Junglefowl, Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush and Shikra). No big surprise, except a possible female Orange breasted Green Pigeon. Other birding reports stated some other forest birds at lower level but they were not seen here.
Birding was done in the resort and major footpaths around the resort. There is a narrow dirt road that should reach the hilltop (around 1500m high). Some upland grassland birds should be there.
The junction of the dirt road to hilltop and the one to the resort is about 200 m away from the resort. The forest around that junction is good.
Bagan (Dry zone; old temples)
Birding was mainly done at dry farmlands around Sulamani and Dhammayanggyi Temples. Interesting birds are White-throated Babbler, Burmese Bushlark, Rain Quail, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Plain-backed Sparrow and Lagger Falcon. These birds are not too difficult to find. Rain Quails should be found at a long grass field just next to the entrance of Sulamani Temple (should be the left hand side when you face the temple). A yellow-legged Buttonquail was encountered when I was searching rain quails. Two other target birds, Hooded Treepie and Jerdon’s Minivet were failed to find.
The key highlight of this trip is when we were swimming at the hotel (Amazing Bagan Resort). A Spotted Owlet was seen just on the roof of my room! Its exposed position offered a good photo taking opportunity. However, I need to bear a risk: get back to the room, pass underneath the bird twice and get back the camera without disturbing the owlet. Fortunately, this Owlet was very cooperative and allowed me to complete the task. This is the first time I took bird photos with swimming suit. We saw the Owlet several times afterwards.
Inle Lake (wetland)
I stayed at Pristine Lotus Resort, which is on the left side hand of the lake. Reeds, marshes and farmlands are around the resort. There is a lookout of the resort (actually a happy hour open bar) which offers a good view of these habitats. Early morning birding at the lookout (around 5:30AM) is enjoyable…. Jerdon’s Bushchat, Striated Grassbird, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Purple Swamphen, Oriental Reed Warbler, Clarmorous Reed Warbler, Purple Heron and Baya Weaver. Collared Myna was also regularly seen here. They were particularly easy to see around late afternoon as they like to roost at tall grasses near the resort. A pair of Bluethroats was found at a farmland near the resort, which offered a good photo opportunity.
Apart from birding around the resort, we also took a typical sightseeing boat trip (0800-1500h). Asian Openbill, Brown-headed Gull, Glossy Ibis, Little Tern, Pheasant tailed Jacana were added on the trip list.
In order to facilitate birders, a simple birding map around Pristine Lotus Resort is shown in the photo posting
Logistics
In general, Myanmar is a nice place. People are honest, friendly and helpful. Details of my trip
Exchange rate: US$1 = 1206 kyats. Fixed rate. Can do it in the Yangon international airport
Transport: Within Yangon, taxi is cheap and good. No need to bargain too much. Taxi drivers are very very honest. Short distances (around 2km) should cost 2000 to 3000 kyats (around HKD$13 to 20). From the city centre to the airport should be around 8,000 – 10,000 kyats (HK$52 to 65). A pre-booking van from the airport to downtown is 16,000 kyats.
For travelling among tourist hotspot (eg fr Yangon to Bagan), if time is not on your side, try domestic flights (about HK$900 one way, one hr). Tourist bus should be cheaper (US$15) but longer (8-12 hrs).
In Bagan, you could try eBike (4000 kyats half day). It is a very convenient way to explore the old temples. If you could ride bicycles, it should be ok to travel with eBike. In Inle Lake, the boat trip should be US$30 per boat (for 5 people).
Food
Acceptable. Some are good and some are bad. Most restaurants have English menu.
Safety
No hassle at all. Of course, you will expect some hawkers and other people asking u to buy something at tourist hotspots. But they are not really disturbing. In general, always travel cautiously, esp when a lot of people around.
Weather
Late March to Apr has already been very hot, the temperature could reach 40 degree in noon in Bagan. So, better to do anything in early morning and late afternoon. However, the temp at night is comfortable (around 25 degree)
Smiles
One of the remarks of this trip. Most people in Myanmar are with smiles, esp hotel staff.
[ Last edited by wcaptain at 15/04/2016 11:56 ] Author: wcaptain Time: 15/04/2016 11:26
Orange breasted Green Pigeon (female)
Crested Serpent eagle
Blue-throated Barbet
Grey-breasted Prinia
Streak eared Bulbul
Burmese Bushlark
Plain-backed Sparrow
Lagger Falcon (juv x 3)
Lagger Falcon (adult)
White-throated Babbler
Burmese Shrike
Verditer Flycatcher
Common Iora (male)
Black-shouldered Kite
Striated Grassbird
Spooted Owlet
Siberian Stonechat
Collared Myna
Bluethroat
Little Cormorant
Brown-headed Gull
Wire-tailed Swallow
Pheasant tailed Jacana
Oriental Reed Warbler
A rough birding map at Pristine Lotus Resort, Inle Lake Author: wcaptain Time: 15/04/2016 11:53
Yangon Mt Popa Bagan Inle Lake
1 Little Grebe * At a pond around Sulamani Temple
2 Little Cormorant * Seen during the boat trip
3 Asian Openbill * Seen during the boat trip
4 Spot billed Duck * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
5 Glossy Ibis * Seen during the boat trip
6 Great Egret * * widespread at inlet lake
7 Little Egret * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
8 Intermediate Egret * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
9 Cattle Egret * Seen during the boat trip
10 Purple Heron * Not too difficult to see around the resort. Apart from the adults, a young bird was seen
11 Indian Pond Heron * Two to three birds should be seen during the boat trip. Did not pay much attention. Anyway, the key feature is pale head with dark body colour
12 Chinese Pond Heron * * Common
13 Yellow Bittern * At dusk (actually during happy hour) landed on marsh near the Lookout on 1 Apr
14 Common Snipe * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
15 Green Sandpiper * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
16 Wood Sandpiper * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
17 Grey-headed Lapwing * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
18 Black-winged stilit * Seen during the boat trip
19 Coot * Seen during the boat trip. About 30 birds
20 White-breasted Waterhen * Two were seen at Kandawgyi Hotel during morning walk
21 Purple Swamphen * Around the lookout
22 Pheasant-tailed Jacana * Seen during the boat trip. About 20 birds
23 Brown-headed Gull * Seen during the boat trip. At least three flocks, each flock contained about 30 to 50 birds
24 Little Tern * One was seen at Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort during the boat trip
25 Red junglefowl * two males chasing each other were seen
26 Chinese Francolin * heard only. At hillside next to the resort
27 Rail Quail * At least 3 were flushed near sulamani temple. Unable to take photos
28 Yellow-legged Buttonquail * One was seen near sulamani temple
29 Black-shouldered Kite * * One at Sitana Temple at Bagan. Also common at Inle Lake
30 Black Kite * regularly seen in Yangon
31 Crested Serpent Eagle * Two at Mt Popa resort
32 Oriental honey buzzard * One bird on a ploughing field near the Amazing Bagan Resort was overlooked (very close and exposed, I thought it was a plastic bag)
33 Pied harrier * One male passby the swimming pool of Pristine Lotus resort at about 11 am on 31 march. No camera with me at that time.
34 Shikra * * widespread and easy to see
35 Lagger Falcon * 2 adults and 3 juvs
36 Kestrel * one at Mt Popa resort
37 Spotted Owlet * One bird was seen when swimming at Amazing Bagan Resort. Actaully it nested at the roof of my room. Fantastic
38 Lineated barbet * hillside next to the resort
39 Coppersmith's Barbet * *
40 Blue-throated Barbet * Common around the mt popa resort
41 Hoopoe * * hillside next to the resort at Inle Lake. One flying bird was also seen during the breakfast at Bagan
42 Green-billed Makoha * One was seen at secondary woodland
43 Koel * * heard and seen
44 Plantive Cuckoo * heard only
45 Greater Coucal * Very common around the resort
46 House Swift * * Mainly around the lookout
47 Asian Palm Swift *
48 Green bee eater * Near Amazining Bagan Resort
49 White-breasted Kingfisher * *
50 Orange-breasted Green Dove? * one female was seen at a dry tree near the resort
51 Emerald Dove * secondary woodland near Mt Popa Resort
52 Feral Pigeon * * * very common
53 Spotted Dove * * * Common
54 Eurasian Collared Dove * Bagan only
55 citrine wagtail * easy to see around the resort
56 Grey wagtail * man-made stream of the resort
57 Paddyfield Pipit * two were seen regularly on the lawn of resort
58 Olive-backed Pipit * a flock was seen at a village between old and new bagan
59 Red-throated Pipit * one adult was seen at the ploughing field near the resort
60 Burmese Bushlark * Common at Bagan
61 Slender-billed Oriole * Mt popa Resort. One male and two females
62 Streak-eared Bulbul * * Common at Bagan and Mt Popa
63 Red-whiskered Bulbul * * widespread at the resort (inlet lake) and one was seen at Rose Garden Hotel, Yangon
64 Sooty-headed Bulbul * hillside of the resort
65 Red-vented Bulbul * two were seen at Mt Popa resort
66 Black-crested Bulbul * regularly seen at Mt Popa resort
67 Bluethroat * A pair was seen near the ploughing field near the resort. Not very afraid of me
68 Pied Bushchat * Common
69 Jerdon's Bushchat * two to three birds were seen regularly around the resort
70 Siberian Stonechat * Common
71 Magpie Robin * * This bird is not so common as in HK.
72 Sand Martin * Common around the lookout
73 Barn Swallow * Common around the lookout
74 Wire-tailed Swallow * One bird was seen at a restaurant during the lunchtime of boat trip
75 Red-rumped Swallow * Common around the lookout
76 Ashy Woodswallow * Two were seen at the resort
77 Blue rock thrush * * one each (both male) at two resorts
78 Verditer Flycatcher * * widespread. Compared with red-throated flycatcher, it preferred taller and denser woods in rural areas and secondary woodland
79 Red-throated Flycatcher * * widespread. Compared with Verditer flycatcher, it preferred open woods
80 Asian brown flycatcher * open woodland at the resort
81 Zitting Cistocola * one at Bagan
82 Plain Prinia * Common around the lookout
83 rufescent prinia around the first engine breakdown location, about 15 kmaway from kalaw
84 Grey-breasted Prinia * usually on trees around temples
85 Yellow-browed Warbler * Inland side of the resort
86 Buff barred Warbler * Id by Jose
87 Yellow-streaked Warbler * some were seen feeding on ground near the pond
88 Striated Grassbird * Around the lookout
89 Oriental Reed Warbler * Around the lookout
90 Clamorous Reed Warbler * Around the lookout
91 Thick-billed Warbler * Building its nest at the hillside next to the resort
92 Black-browed Reed Warbler * Around the lookout
93 Dusky Warbler * * Inland side of the resort
94 Common Tailorbird * * * * Common
95 Tree sparrow * Very common
96 House Sparrow * Common
97 Plain backed Sparrow * Not to difficult to find this bird at Bagan
98 Black-naped Monarch one was seen at the first engine breakdown location, probably 15 km away from Kalaw
99 White-throated Fantail * secondary woodland near Mt Popa Resort
100 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker * * common
101 Oriental White-eye * Mixed with CF white-eye
102 Chestnut flanked White-eye * Mixed with O white-eye
103 Common Iora * At a village between old bagan and new bagan
104 Purple Sunbird * * particular common at the Mt Popa resort
105 Lesser necklaced Laughingthrush * Common around the Mt Popa resort
106 Chestnut capped Laughingthrush * difficult to observe the detail. Grey body, white tail tip, chestnut cap. So should be this bird
107 White-throated Babbler * Common in Bagan
108 Chestnut capped Babbler * Around the lookout. Not more than 2 birds
109 Striped Tit Babbler * a flock of 20 birds was seen at the resort
110 Black Drongo * * * Common
111 Bronze Drongo * secondary woodland near Mt Popa Resort
112 Ashy Drongo * Nesting near Kalaw; also near the foothill near Pristine Lotus Resort
113 Greater racket-tailed Drongo * secondary woodland near Mt Popa Resort
114 House crow * * * very common. In fact, they are the king of Yangon. They colonize everywhere of the city
115 Burmese Shrike * At a village between old bagan and new bagan
116 Grey-backed Shrike * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
117 ? Treepie Between Mt Popa and Bagan, likely to be Rufous Treepie
118 Black-necked Starling * village near Pristine Lotus resort
119 vinous breasted starling * * common around Bagan; two far away, young birds should be seen at dusk at Pristine Lotus Resort
120 White-vented Myna * very common around Inlet Lake
121 Collared Myna * marshes near Pristine Lotus resort
122 Common Myna * * * very common
123 Baya Weaver * seen when going uphill; also at the marsh
124 Spotted Munia * * common around the marsh
30 36 71 Author: wcaptain Time: 15/04/2016 11:54
Can't fix the align problem Author: John Holmes Time: 15/04/2016 13:00
Never mind the "align" - some fine birds and thanks for sharing the info. ! Author: kmatthew Time: 15/04/2016 16:30
Thanks for sharing Captain, great info and a pretty good selection of birds! Author: subbuteo Time: 15/04/2016 19:45
Thanks Captain. Really nice report.
Dylan Author: Mr.Cyan Time: 16/04/2016 00:11
Indeed, thanks for sharing captain, great field report and pics Author: gary Time: 16/04/2016 13:42
Good Birds and Good Trip!! Author: kkchang168 Time: 16/04/2016 19:41
Very useful and very detail report. Thanks for sharing. Author: fneil Time: 17/04/2016 10:37
Good Report. Very helpful as I'm planning a trip there in late July.
Neil. Author: wcaptain Time: 19/04/2016 14:54
THX for all views and comments. here are more photos
Green Bee-eater
Vinous breasted Starling
Yellow-streaked Warbler
Clarmorous Reed Warbler
Shikra (chasing House Crow)
Indian Pond Heron
Paddyfield Pipit (?)
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