Day 279: Knocking ’Em Out In Kalaw
A bird in hand really is worth two in the bush.
October 6, 2015:ÌýKalaw, MyanmarÌý—ÌýGideon and I hopped a quick flight early this morning to Heho with aÌýbrief stopover in Mandalay—the former Burmese capitol and namesakeÌýof Las Vegas'Ìýfamous Mandalay Bay Hotel, among other things. OnÌýarrival in Heho, we drove a short distance to Kalaw, Gideon's hometownÌýin Myanmar's eastern highlands. By midday we were sitting down at hisÌýhouse for a home-cooked lunch, prepared by his wife, which powered aÌýsolid session of birding in the nearby hills.
We took Gideon's motorbike this afternoon to a valley whereÌýSpot-breasted Parrotbills, White-browed Laughingthrushes, and aÌýlightning storm kept things interesting. Many of the birds in theseÌýhills are shared with neighboring Thailand, where I'll be birding in aÌýcouple of weeks, but might as well knock 'em out while I'm here! OneÌýthing I've learned this year is not to count on birds ahead of time.ÌýWhen someone says, "Don't worry, we'll see a [insert bird name]Ìýlater,"Ìýanything might happen, and I've begun to cringe whenever IÌýhear that phrase. A bird in hand really is worth two in the bush, soÌýI'll take these birds in Myanmar and worry about Thailand when I getÌýthere.
This area is a popular destination for guided hiking trips, so thereÌýare a few tourists kicking around town, mostly young backpacker types.ÌýTomorrow I should get a better taste of the landscape. Meanwhile, it'sÌýa heavy, thunderstormy evening in Kalaw.
New birds today: 20
Year list: 4676
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