ITINERARY (5)

A Bird Watching visit to
the Extreme North Kachin State

(Yangon - Putao - Camp 2 - Putao - Yangon)

DAY BRIEF DETAILS OVERNIGHT

Arrival and drive to Moeyungyi sanctuary Moeyungyi Resort
Morning Birding Moeyungyi Hotel in Yangon

Evening drive Yangon
Fly Yangon - Putao Hotel in Putao
Drive Putao to Sangaung village Sangaung
Walk Sangaung to Camp 1 Camp 1
Camp 1 to Warsardum village Warsardum
Warsardum to Khalardum village Khalardum
Khalardum to Zeyardum village Zeyardum
Zeyardum to Camp 2 Camp 2
Birding Camp 2 Camp 2
Camp 2 to Zeyardum Zeyardum
Birding Zeyardum Zeyardum
Zeyardum to Khalardum Khalardum
Khalardum to Warsardum Warsardum
Warsardum to Camp 1 Camp 1
Camp 1 to Sangaung village Sangaung
Drive Sangaung to Putao. Fly Yangon Hotel in Yangon
Depart.
Snow Line Extension
Camp 2 to Camp 3 Camp 3
Camp 3 to Camp 4 Camp 4
Birding Camp 4 Camp 4
Camp 4 to Camp 2 Camp 2
Camp 2 to Zeyardum Zeyardum
Day 16 Zeyardum Zeyardum
Day 17 Zeyardum to Khalardum Khalardum
Day 18 Khalardum to Warsardum Warsardum
Day 19 Warsardum to Camp 1 Camp 1
Day 20 Camp 1 to Sangaung Sangaung
Day 21 Drive Sangaung to Putao. Fly Yangon Yangon
Day 22 Depart.

Day.1 A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, MyanmarMorning arrive Yangon and have a tour briefing.  After lunch drive to Moeyungyi sanctuary (a vast area of wetland) situated approximately 110 km north to Yangon. Spend the late afternoon birding along the shores of the wetland, looking for birds such as the Blue throat, Thick - billed Warbler, Wagtails, Pipits, Golden Plovers, Harriers and Kites. Dinner and overnight at the resort in the sanctuary.
Day.2 A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, MyanmarTake an early boat ride in the sanctuary looking for Greater Spotted Eagle, Woolly-necked Stork, Asian Openbill, Sarus Crane, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, among thousands of waders and shorebirds. This sanctuary is approximately 40 square miles in area with about 80 species of birds. Spend the whole morning birding in the sanctuary and after a late lunch, drive back to Yangon. Visit Shwedagon Pagoda in the evening.
Day.3 A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, MyanmarMorning fly to Putao, the northern most district town of Myanmar, formerly known as Fort Hertz. Arrive to Putao in late afternoon and check into hotel. Look out for birds like Grey-backed Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Green-backed Tit, Common Kestrel, Grey Bushchat, Daurian Redstart, Striated Grassbird and Yellow-bellied Fantail around the hotel.
Day.4 A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, MyanmarAfter breakfast drive to Sangaung. Sangaung is a Rawan village about 30 km North of Putao and the drive will take about 90 minutes. Since the drive is through paddy fields and scrubs we look out for Raptors like Hen Harrier, Crested Goshawk, Changeable Hawk-Eagle. This is the last village to where a car can drive and the beginning of a long walk to the thrills of the extreme North Myanmar. Overnight in a timber house and start using sleeping bags. Afternoon birding around the village to look out for birds like Ashy Bulbul, Oranged-bellied Leafbird, Long-tailed Broadbill, Scarlet Sunbird, Brown Dipper, Plumbeous Redstart, Grey-throated Babbler, Buff-breasted Babblers and others. Starting from today daily meals, refreshment and laundry will be taken care of by our crews and porters.
Day.5 A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, MyanmarStart trekking early in the morning, birding along the way. Our supplies and gear are carried by porters, some from Putao and some from Sangaung and nearby villages. The first part of the track is through some secondary forest along a small river but the second part is through a pristine forest, both of which are rich in special birds like Pale-headed Woodpecker, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Little Forktail, Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Blue-spectacled Parrotbill (Greater Rufous-headed) and Snowy-throated Babbler. Today’s trekking requires some hard work, climbing steep hills and crossing steep gulleys. Overnight in Camp 1 situated on a mountain range about 1400 meters in elevation.
Day.6 A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, MyanmarToday’s trekking is through a primary forest mostly walking downhill to Warsardum village  situated in a valley about 800 meters in elevation. Along the way look out for birds like Beautiful Nuthatch, Pin-tailed Pigeon, Collared Treepie, Grey -bellied Tesia, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Long-tailed Sibia, Golden Babbler, Rufous-faced Warbler, White-gorgetted Flycatcher, White-naped Yuhina and many more. Overnight in a bamboo village house.

 
Day.7 Walk from Warsardum to another village called Khalardum which is about 12 Kilometers away. It is an easy walk through relatively flat terrain with lots of time for birding along the way. Today’s specials are Common Merganser, Ibisbill,Wreathed Hornbill, Crested Kingfisher, Rufous-necked Laughingthrussh, Red-billed Leothrix and Lesser Rufus-headed Parrotbill. Upon reaching Khalardum the night will be spent in a roomy school building built with timber. There are river crossings today which are about waist deep but temporary bridges are built across the rivers by our advance crews who arrive about one month earlier.

 A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar  A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar  A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar
Day.8 The tract from Khalardum to Zeyardum is about 6 Kilometers and relatively flat with some river crossings. The forest between these two villages is very rich in birds like Rufous-necked Hornbill, Black-eared Shirke Babbler, Striated Laughingthrush, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Eyebrowed Thrush, Wedge-billed Wren Babbler. Zeyardum is a Rawan village situated on the bank of Zeyar river. The Zeyar river is a significantly important place in our track because it is the place we found the White -bellied Heron for the first time in more than 60 years, on our first expedition in January 1998. Zeyar is also the last village along the tract. Beyond this there is nothing but primeval forest. Overnight in a house in Zeyardum.
Day.9 After early breakfast try to find the White-bellied Heron along Zeyar river. We also look out for some Rufous-necked and Wreathed Hornbills. Later, walk along the river to the last camp situated on the bank of Namlam river. The camp is about 1150 meters in elevation and is carefully chosen to be in a place where White-bellied Herons fly across every morning and evening, sometimes in pairs and sometimes single. On the way from Zeyar to the camp see birds like Yuhinas, Wren Babblers, Tesias, Laughingthrushes, Flycatchers, Robins, Babblers, Pigeons, Forktails and Scimitar - Babblers. Overnight at the camp.
Day.10 Today after awaiting the White - bellied Heron fly by early in the morning, explore the forest around the camp. Those who wish to see higher elevation birds can walk up the nearby ridge for 3 to 4 hours to look for birds like Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Woodpacker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Rufous-throated Partrige, Striped-throated Yuhina and Black-Faced Warbler. Those who wish to spend birding only around the camp have an easy and relaxed day.

A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar
Day.11
to 16		 Walk back the same way we came up camping at the same sites and trying to find birds we may have missed on the way up. Spend one extra day at Zeyardum village because its surrounding is rich in birds and could not be thoroughly explored in one day.
Day.17 Leave Sangaung village late in the morning after a few hours of birding around the village. Arrive Putao before lunch and take the flight to Yangon later in the afternoon. Overnight Yangon.
Day.18

Morning visit Hlawga wildlife park on the outskirts of Yangon where the species to see are Pale capped Pigeon, Racket-tailed Treepie, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Striped-throated Bulbul with white eye and Olive-backed Sunbird. Evening international departures

Snow Line Extension

Day.1 to Day.9 -Same as above itinerary

A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar  A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar  A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar
Day.10 Start walking up to higher altitudes. The first part of the tract is steep which requires some hard work, but from the time one gets up on the ridge the tract is relatively easy until camp 3 is reached. Camp 3 is situated on the ridge about 2200 meters in elevation and about 8 Kilometers away from camp 2.
Day.11 The track from camp 3 to camp 4 is along the same ridge with some ups and downs. Camp 4 is situated at 2500 meters and is about 6 Kilometers from camp 3. Starting from Mid December till February the snow line is at the same elevation as camp 4 but sometimes extends down to camp 3. The habitat around camp 4 is broad leaf evergreen forest with some bamboo patches. The camp site is on the ridge with a relatively wide and flat area. A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar
Day.12
to 13		 Birding above and around camp 4.
Day.14 Walk back from camp 4 to camp 2.
Day.15 Same as day 11 onwards in above itinerary. Arrive Sangaung village on day 20 and fly back to Yangon on day 21. Day 22  international departures.
The purpose of coming to camp 4 is to find great birds like Blyth’s Tragopan, Temminck’s Tragopan, Sclater’s Monal, Fire-Tailed Myzornis, Black-faced Laughingthrush, White-browed Fulvetta, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Rufous-vented Tit, Coal Tit, Red Crossbill, Gold-billed Magpie, Spotted Nutcracker and a new species for Myanmar, the Brown -headed Fulvetta.

A Bird Watching visit to the Extreme North Kachin State, Myanmar
This part of the track is relatively quiet in comparison with the lowland but occasional big and small waves of birds ca be seen although with low diversity. Overnight is in tents and sleeping bags