Myanmar (Burma) Birding / Birds Watching Trip Report
Raining Birds Watching
At Hlawga Wildlife Park, Kalaw, Inle Lake &
Bagan
In Myanmar ( Burma)
20 – 25 July 2007
Bagan © Thet Zaw Naing
By
Thet Zaw Naing
Participant: Jack Folkers
ITINERARY
20 July
In the morning, birds watching at Hlawga Wildlife Park. Late afternoon fly to Heho and proceed to Kalaw for two nights stay. Birding stops en-route. Overnight at Winner Hotel in Kalaw.
21 July
Birding at Kalaw. Overnight at Winner Hotel in Kalaw.
22 July
In the morning drive to Inle Lake for one night stay. Birding stops on the way. Birds watching at Inle Lake in the evening. Overnight at Golden Island Cottages Hotel on Inle Lake.
23 July
Morning birding again at Inle Lake and late afternoon fly to Bagan for two nights stay. Overnight at Thande Hotel in Bagan.
24 July
Briding at Bagan. Overnight at Thande Hotel in Bagan.
25 July
Fly back to Yangon
NOTES ON BIRDS WATCHING SITES
Hlawga Wildlife Park
Hlawga is established in 1982 and is a small wetland area, comprised of semi-evergreen, mixed deciduous and swamp forests. It is 6.24 sq km on the outskirts of the Yangon city in South Myanmar ( Burma).
Kalaw
Kalaw is a small town located at North 20˚ 37' 32.7'' and East 96˚ 33' 22.7'' in the Shan Plateau in East Myanmar at 1,380 masl. Its area is covered by evergreen forests and secondary pine forests. In Kalaw especially visit to Yeaye Reserve Forest (Yeaye reservoir) which is situated at North 20˚ 35' 51.2'' and East 96˚ 31' 49.2''.
Inle Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary ( Inle Lake)
This sanctuary is established in 1985 and is located in the Shan Plateau in East Myanmar at 1,300 masl. It is situated at between 19˚ 46' and 20˚ 38' north and between 96˚ 47' and 97˚ 6' east in a north-south going valley surrounded on two sides by smaller mountain ranges. The wetland named after the Inle Lake that is a shallow lake. It is also a famous tourist site in Myanmar.
Bagan (Pagan)
Bagan is situated at North 21˚ 10' 20.6'' and East 94˚ 51' 51.1'' on the east bank of the Arrawaddy River, Central Myanmar Dry Zone and is semi-desert with scrub and scattered trees. Bagan is also Myanmar ( Burma) most important archeology zone and is one of the richest archaeological sites in Asia. It has over 2,000 pagodas and temples built during the Bagan Dynasty founded by King Anawrahta in 1044 A.D.
RECORDED BIRD SPECIES
During the trip a total of 152 bird species have been recorded. Details are:
PHASIANIDAE: Francolins, pheasants & Junglefowl
Chinese FrancolinFrancolinus pintadeanus
Two heard at Bagan.
Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica
Three seen at Bagan.
Rain Quail © Thet Zaw Naing
Red JunglefowlGallus gallus
One male seen and three heard at Hlawga Wildlife Park.
DENDROCYGNIDAE: Whistling-ducks
Lesser Whistling-DuckDendrocygna javanica
Seven at Kalaw and one at Inle Lake.
ANATIDAE: ANATINAE: Anatini: Typical ducks
Spot-billed DuckAnas poecilorhyncha
18 at Kalaw.
PICIDAE: Piculets & typical woodpeckers
Greater FlamebackChrysocolaptes lucidus
One at Kalaw.
Bay WoodpeckerBlythipicus pyrrhotis
One at Kalaw.
MEGALAIMIDAE: Asian barbets
Great BarbetMegalaima virens
One at Kalaw.
Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica
Three at Kalaw.
Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis
One at Kalaw.
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
At least five at Hlawga, one at Kalaw and one at Bagan.
UPUPIDAE: Hoopoes
Common HoopoeUpupa epops
Four at Bagan.
CORACIIDAE: Rollers
Indian RollerCoracias benghalensis
One at Kalaw and two at Bagan.
ALCEDINIDAE: Smaller kingfishers
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
One at Inle Lake.
HALCYONIDAE: Larger kingfishers
White-throated KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
Four at Hlawga, one at Kalaw, three at Inle Lake and two at Bagan.
CUCULIDAE: Old World cuckoos
Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
Six at Bagan.
Pied Cuckoo © Thet Zaw Naing
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
One at Kalaw, one at Inle Lake and two at Bagan.
Asian KoelEudynamys scolopacea
One at Hlawga and one at Bagan.
Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis
One at Hlawga, two at Kalaw and two between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
CENTROPADIDAE: Coucals
Greater CoucalCentropus sinensis
One between Kalaw and Inle, five at Kalaw and one at Bagan.
MEROPIDAE: Bee-eaters
Green Bee-eaterMerops orientalis
Three at Hlawga, three at Inle Lake and 16 at Bagan.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
11 at Inle Lake and three at Bagan.
PSITTACIDAE: Parakeets
Grey-headed ParakeetPsittacula finschii
One at Kalaw.
APODIDAE: Swifts
Asian Palm SwiftCypsiurus balasiensis
Common through out.
House SwiftApus nipalensis
30+ at Bagan.
COLUMBIDAE: Pigeons & doves
Rock PigeonColumba livia
Common through out except Hlawga.
Oriental Turtle DoveStreptopelia orientalis
Five between Heho and Kalaw, two at Kalaw and six between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Common between Heho and Kalaw, between Kalaw and Inle Lake and at Bagan, nine at Hlawga, four at Kalaw.
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Two at Bagan.
Red Collared DoveStreptopelia tranquebarica
Five at Bagan.
TYTONIDAE: Barn, grass and bay owls
Barn OwlTyto alba
One head at Kalaw and one head at Inle Lake.
STRIGIDAE: Typical owls
Spotted OwletAthene brama
Two at Bagan.
CAPRIMULGIDAE: CAPRIMULGINAE: Typical nightjars
Indian NightjarCaprimulgus asiaticus
One at Bagan.
ALLIDAE: Rails, gallinules & coots
White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
One between Kalaw and Inle Lake and another one at Inle Lake.
Purple SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
Four between Kalaw and Inle Lake and three at Inle Lake.
JACANIDAE: Jacanas
Pheasant-tailed JacanaHydrophasianus chirurgus
Four between Kalaw and Inle Lake and three at Inle Lake.
Bronze-winged JacanaMetopidius indicus
Three at Inle Lake.
TRINGINAE: Sandpipers
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
One at Inle Lake
ACCIPITRIDAE: ACCIPITRINAE: Hawks & eagles
Oriental Honey BuzzardPernis ptilorhynchus
Two between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
Black-shouldered KiteElanus caeruleus
Two between Heho and Kalwa, therr between Kalaw and Inle Lake, three at Inle Lake and four at Bagan.
Crested Serpent EagleSpilornis cheela
One at Hlawga.
Shikra Accipiter badius
One at Kalaw.
PHALACROCORACIDAE: Cormorants
Little CormorantPhalacrocorax niger
Three at Hlawga and at least 120 at Inle Lake.
At Inle Lake we found this species is breeding colony with Cattle, Little and Intermediate Egrets, Black-crowned Night Heron and Glossy Ibis.
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
16 at Ayeyarwaddy.
ARDEIDAE: Egrets, herons & bitterns
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
One at Hlawga, 70+ at Inle Lake.
Intermediate EgretEgretta intermedia
At least 150 at Inle Lake.
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
50+ at Inle Lake.
Indian Pond HeronArdeola greyii
20+ at Inle Lake.
Chinese Pond HeronArdeola bacchus
14 at Inle Lake.
Pond Heron Ardeola spp.
Ten at Inle Lake.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
About 60 at Inle Lake.
Cinnomon Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
Eight at Inle Lake.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
16 at Inle Lake.
Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis
One at Inle Lake.
THRESKIORNITHIDAE: Ibises
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
21 adults and 16 juveniles were seen at Inle Lake.
EURYLAIMINAE: Typical broadbills
Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae
At least 20 head at Kalaw.
IRENIDAE: Leafbirds
Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii
Two at Kalaw
LANIIDAE: Shrikes
Burmese ShrikeLanius collurioides
One at Kalaw and another one at Bagan.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
One at Bagan.
Long-tailed ShrikeLanius schach
Four at Kalaw and one between Kalaw and Inle Lake..
Grey-backed ShrikeLanius tephronotus
One at Kalaw.
CORVINAE: Corvini: Jays, magpies, treepies & crows
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
Two at Kalaw.
Red-billed Blue MagpieUrocissa erythrorhyncha
One at Kalaw.
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
One at Kalaw.
Racket-tailed TreepieCrypsirina temia
Two at Hlawga.
Grey TreepieDendrocitta formosae
One at Kalaw.
House CrowCorvus splendens
Common between Heho and Kalaw, between Kalaw and Inle Lake and at Bagan, ten at Hlawga, 14 at Kalaw and 26 at Inle Lake.
Large-billed CrowCorvus macrorhynchos
Five at Kalaw.
Artamini: Woodswallows & allies
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
Nine at Hlawga, and eleven at Kalaw.
Oriolini: Orioles, cuckooshrikes, minivets & flycatcher-shrikes
Black-hooded OrioleOriolus xanthornus
One at Kalaw.
Rosy Minivet Pericrocotus roseus
Four at Kalaw.
Scarlet MinivetPericrocotus flammeus
Nine at Kalaw.
Jerdon’s MinivetPericrocotus albifrons
One family (one juvenile and his parents) at Bagan. This species is split from White-bellied Minivet which is Myanmar endemic bird species.
Jerdon’s Minivet (Male) © Jack Folkers
Jerdon’s Minivet (Female) © Thet Zaw Naing
Jerdon’s Minivet (Juvenile) © Thet Zaw Naing
Grey-chinned MinivetPericrocotus solaris
16 at Kalaw.
Black-winged Flycatcher-shrikeHermipus picatus
Five at Kalaw.
DICRURINAE: Rhipidurini: Fantails
White-throated FantailRhipidura albicollis
Seven at Kalaw.
Dicrurini: Drongos
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
One between Heho and Kalaw, five between Kalaw and Inle Lake, common at Inle Lake and two at Bagan.
Ashy DrongoDicrurus leucophaeus
Two at Kalaw.
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
Five at Kalaw.
Lesser Racket-tailed DrongoDicrurus remifer
Two at Hlawga.
Spangled DrongoDicrurus hottentottus
One at Hlawga.
Greater Racket-tailed DrongoDicrurus paradiseus
Five at Hlawga and one at Kalaw.
Monarchini: Monarches
Black-naped MonarchHypothymis azurea
Two at Hlawga and one at Kalaw.
AEGITHININAE: Ioras
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
15 at Hlawga, Five at Kalaw, one between Kalaw and Inle Lake and nineat Bagan.
MUSCICAPIDAE: MUSCICAPINAE: Muscicapini: Old World flycatchers
Verditer FlycatcherEumyias thalassina
Three at Kalaw.
Tickell's Blue FlycatcherCyornis tickelliae
Four at Kalaw.
Saxicolini: Chats & allies
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus
At least 10 at Hlawga
. 
White-rumped Shama © Thet Zaw Naing
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
Two at Halaw, two at Kalaw, one at Inle Lake and two at Bagan.
Pied BushchatSaxicola caprata
Common between Heho and Kalaw and between Kalaw and Inle Lake and five at Bagan.
Jerdon's BushchatSaxicola jerdoni
Nine at Inle Lake.
Jerdon's Bushchat © Thet Zaw Naing
Grey BushchatSaxicola ferrea
Two at Kalaw.
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucura
One at Kalaw.
White-crowned ForktailEnicurus leschenaultia
Six at Kalaw.
STURNIDAE: Sturnini: Starlings & mynas
Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
Several between Heho and Kalaw, between Kalaw and Inle Lake and at Bagan, at least 100 at Inle Lake.
This species is roosting with the colony of Glossy Ibis, Little Cormorant, Cattle, Little and Intermediate Egrets, Pond Heron, White-vented, Collared and Jungle Mynas, Chestnut-tailed, Vinous-breasted and Black-collared Starlings at Inle Lake.
White-vented Myna Acridotheres grandis
Two between Heho and Kalaw and at least 150 at Inle Lake.
Collared Myna Acridotheres albocinctus
About 100 t Inle Lake.
Collared Myna © Thet Zaw Naing
Jungle MynaAcridotheres fuscus
50+ at Inle Lake.
Black-collared Starling Gracupica nigricollis
29 at Inle Lake.
Vinous-breasted StarlingAcridotheres burmannicus (Myanmar near-endemic bird species)
200+ at Inle Lake.
Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnus malabaricus
200+ at Inle Lake.
SITTIDAE: SITTINAE: Nuthatches
Velvet-fronted NuthatchSitta frontalis
Two at Kalaw.
PARIDAE: PARINAE: Typical tits
Great Tit Parus major
One between Heho and Kalaw and 13 at Kalaw.
HIRUNDININAE: Martins & swallows
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Common between Heho and Kalaw, between Kalaw and Inle Lake and at Inle Lake.
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Six between Heho and Kalaw and three between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
One at Kalaw.
PYCNONOTIDAE: Bulbuls
Black-crested BulbulPycnonotus melanicterus
Two at Hlawga.
Flavescent BulbulPycnonotus flavescens
Nine at Kalaw.
Crested FinchbillSpizixos canifrons
Two at Kalaw.
Brown-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
Six between Heho and Kalaw, common at Kalaw and two between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
Common at Hlawga, 16 between Heho and Kalaw, five at Kalaw, 24 between Kalaw and Inle Lake and 39 at Bagan.
Sooty-headed BulbulPycnonotus aurigaster
Tow at Kalaw.
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
Common at Hlawga, eight between Heho and Kalaw, two at Kalaw, five between Kalaw and Inle Lake, four at Inle Lake and 25 at Bagan.
Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi (Myanmar near-endemic bird species)
Common at Hlawga and Bagan.
Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala
Seven at Kalaw.
Black BulbulHypsipetes leucocephalus
Five at Kalaw.
Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii
Common at Kalaw.
CISTICOLIDAE: African warblers (cisticolas, prinias & allies)
Grey-breasted PriniaPrinia hodgsonii
Common between Heho and Kalaw, at Kalaw and between Kalaw and Inle Lake, and eight at Bagan.
Yellow-bellied PriniaPrinia flaviventris
One at Inle Lake.
Plain PriniaPrinia inornata
At least ten at Inle.
Brown PriniaPrinia polychroa
Common at Kalaw and Bagan and one between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
ZOSTEROPIDAE: White-eyes
Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus
Three between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
SYLVIIDAE: ACROCEPHALINAE: Tesias, warblers, tailorbirds & allies
Spotted Bush WarblerBradypterus thoracicus
One at Kalaw.
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
At least five at Inle Lake.s
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
About ten at Hlawga, two between Heho and Kalaw, four at Kalaw, one between Kalaw and Inle, one at Inle Lake and three at Bagan.
Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis
At least ten at Hlawga.
MEGALURINAE: Grassbirds
Striated GrassbirdMegalurus palustris
10+ at Inle Lake.
GARRULACINAE: Laughingthrushes
White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus
Four at Hlawga.
White-browed LaughingthrushGarrulax sannio
Common at Kalaw.
SYLVINAE: Timaliini: Babblers
White-browed Scimitar BabblerPomatorhinus schisticeps
Six at Kalaw.
Puff-throated BabblerPellorneum ruficeps
Five at Hlawga, three at Kalaw and one between Kalaw and Inle Lake.
Golden BabblerStachyris chrysaea
Two at Kalaw.
Striped Tit-Babbler Macronous gularis
Head at Kalaw.
Chestnut-capped BabblerTimalia pileata
Three at Hlawga.
Yellow-eyed BabblerChrysomma sinense
One between Heho and Kalaw, four at Kalaw and 15+ at Bagan.
White-throated BabblerTurdoides gularis (Myanmar endemic bird species)
Common at Bagan.
White-throated Babbler © Thet Zaw Naing
Spectacled Barwing Actinodura ramsayi
Two at Kalaw.
Rufous-backed SibiaHeterophasia annectens
One at Kalaw.
Dark-backed Sibia Heterophasia melanoleuca (Myanmar near-endemic bird species)
Common at Kalaw.
Silver-eared MesiaLeiothrix argentauris
Common at Kalaw.
White-bellied YuhinaYuhina zantholeuca
Three at Kalaw.
ALAUDIDAE: Larks
Burmese BushlarkMirafra microptera (Myanmar endemic bird species)
17 at Bagan.
Burmese Bushlark © Thet Zaw Naing
NECTARINIIDAE: NECTARINIINAE: Dicaeini: Flowerpeckers
Plain FlowerpeckerDicaeum concolor
Four at Kalaw.
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeumcruentatum
Common at Hlawga, two between Kalaw and Inle and six at Bagan.
Nectariniini: Sunbirds & spiderhunters
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
Four at Hlawga.
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Male) © Thet Zaw Naing
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Female) © Thet Zaw Naing
Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis
Two at Hlawga and another two at Bagan.
Purple SunbirdCinnyris asiaticus
One at Bagan
Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
One at Hlawga.
PASSERIDAE: PASSERINAE: Sparrows
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
38 at Kalaw, 19 between Kalaw and Inle Lake, 24 at Inle Lake and 50+ at Bagan.
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
20+ at Hlawga, common at Kalaw and Inle Lake, and 31 at Bagan.
Plain-backed SparrowPasser flaveolus (Myanmar near-endemic bird species)
Eight at Bagan.
Plain-backed Sparrow © Thet Zaw Naing
PLOCEINAE: Weavers
Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus
26 at Bagan.
MOTACILLINAE: Pipits
Paddyfield PipitAnthus rufulus
Two at Bagan.
ESTRILDINAE: Estrildini: Munias
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulata
Common at Hlawga and Kalaw, 14 at Inle Lake and 22 at Bagan.
White-rumped MuniaLonchura striata
Four at Bagan.
MAMMALS
Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta
Over 500 seen at Hlawga Wildlife Park and six at Kalaw.
Red MuntjacMuntiacus muntjak
Three at at Hlawga Wildlife Park.
Sambar Cervus unicolor
14 at Hlawga Wildlife Park.
Eld’s Deer Cervus eldi
Seven at Hlawga Wildlife Park.
Rhesus Macaque © Jack Folkers
If you are interested in a birding tour to Myanmar please contact to me TZN@sstmyanmar.com
