Expected & unexpected new city guests

Hanoi : Some interesting winterers/migrants spotted last week (3rd -> 9th Dec.) in different wooded patches, not more than 10km from the city center.

-White-tailed Robin (Lenin Park, FIPI)

- Rufous-tailed Robin (Lenin Park + FIPI)

- White-throated Rock Thrush female (Lenin Park the 6th December), 1 late migrant. At Hanoi, very few sightings of this species during the autumn passage, more frequently seen in spring.

- Fujian Niltava (Lenin Park, orchard Vinh Thuy, FIPI + Bot. Gardens) - Interesting to notice that this species is present in ALL my patches !

- Small Niltava (FIPI) - A VIP guest at Hanoi!

- Red-flanked Bluetail (Bot. Gardens)

- Siberian Rubythroat (Lenin Park)

- 4 species of Thrushes (Scaly, Japanese, Grey-backed, Orange-headed) - Japanese T. is the commonest species, present in all the patches

- Taiga Flycatcher (Lenin Park, orchard Vinh Thuy, Bot. Gardens + FIPI)

- Black-naped Monarch (FIPI) - 1 late migrant

- Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher (Lenin Park, Bot. Gardens + FIPI)

- Crested Goshawk (FIPI)

- Light-vented Bulbul (orchard Vinh Thuy)

- Phyllosc Warblers (Dusky, Radde's, Yellow-browed, Pallas's, "Blyth's")

- Thick-billed Warbler (Lenin Park, orchard Vinh Thuy)

- Eurasian Woodcock (FIPI) - 2 flushed

Small Niltava
During the winter months, this strict montane bird sometimes shifts to lower elevations. It is a scarce visitor at Hanoi. Moves lower inside denser vegetation, more skulking in habit than other Niltavas. Photos taken at the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI), in a nice patch of 2 ha of good forest (only 10km from the city center). Many thanks to John Parr who show me this place !

female Orange-headed Thrush

Scaly Thrush

female Japanese Thrush

male Japanese Thrush feeding in a fruiting tree

female Red-flanked Bluetail 

"Blyth's Leaf Warbler" with a tiny prey in its bill 

A bit of video of the Crested Goshawk spotted at the FIPI