If you’re an avid bird watcher, the best times to visit Chiang Saen will be alter in the year from October to December, when the migrant birds flock and frolic alongside the resident birds. The range of species that can be found at the lake and the swampland is highly diverse, ranging from many species of waterfowl, storks and herons to many other varieties of smaller birds and several kinds of raptors as well. Chiang Saen Lake is also well known for some of the ‘first sightings’ of bird species in Thailand, such as the Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, and the elusive Grass Owl. Be prepared to set aside at least a couple of days of your travel time for Chiang Saen lake if you’re paying a visit; you wouldn’t get to enjoy half of it if it’s just a day you can manage.