Hanoi: Noctural Roost of ca 25 Migrating Serpent-eagles

On  April 10th, while checking on early morning a quite large wood in the suburbs of Hanoi, I flushed many roosting Crested Serpent-eagles. They were disseminated everywhere in this 10ha wood, often 2 or 3 birds close to each other. Around 9pm I counted ca 20 birds in the air, in 2 flocks. Subsequently I flushed 3 other roosting individuals. I estimate at ca 25+ the number of Crested Serpent-eagles that have spent the night in this area close to the city center.  Just a small patch of forest in an ocean of inhospitable agricultural fields and agglomerations. This wood seems to be a very good stopover habitat for raptors. Last week, I had 3-4 roosting Jerdon's Bazas there also.

Other raptors seen above this wood included 2+ Chinese Sparrowhawks, 4-5 Grey-faced Buzzards, 8 Jerdon’s Bazas high overhead.

Crested Serpent-eagles (different individuals) forced to wake up early - not bad after all, the area is not really friendly...

Adult Chinese Sparrowhawk and Grey-faced Buzzard (typical silhouette with quite narrow, pointed wings).

 2ndcy male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher showing an interesting transitional plumage.

Grey-throated Martin
Resident at Hanoi, breed in vertical banks along the Red River

Two big birds in a small patch

Yesterday in Cau Giay district, in downtown Hanoi, near the 3rd Ring Road, I checked a 3ha wasteland partially wooded found on Google Earth. I discovered a very promising patch, but surrounded by barriers and 'no trespassing' signs.  I found a kind of entry but the bao vê (guards) told me that public access was not permitted. I then explained to them that “my parrot escaped from its cage and took refuge here”. A little miracle occured, they allowed me to enter! (gesture of solidarity between bird-keepers?) Three minutes later, I flushed 2 Crested Serpent-eagles, quickly mobbed by 4 Red-billed Blue Magpies. They didn’t go far and perched at the other side of the patch.

Amazing to spot such beasts in this bustling city (even the group of Magpies was unexpected). The light was very poor and there was a constant drizzle. I suspect the poor weather was the reason these raptors dropped in this urban green space, a highly unlikely place but very quite and (apparently) safe – i.e. without f*****g poachers around.

This area will soon be urbanized, but I think I will again "search my parrot" there over the next few weeks! 

Migrants can be everywhere now, even in a lone tree in your backyard or in a crowded urban park.The best strategy for the month of April is bird often, bird everywhere! Well, do the best you can!

One of the 2 Crested Serpent-eagles spotted in downtown Hanoi on April 8th, obviously an immature bird.

Last record of this species in the city (Red River Island): mid-October 2011 (2 individuals also)

A 2ndcy male Mugimaki Flycatcher found in the same area.

Crested Serpent-eagles (the proofs !)

Hi all,

This morning (22 October) I came back to the wooded area of the Red River Island to finish the job, i.e. take photos of the raptors I spotted yesterday.
A view of what we call "the wooded area of the Red River Island" for those who don't know the place. It is a small wooded patch of 100x400 meters (in the background) surrounded by cultivation, located 1 km from the city center. Vegetation is dense with many bushes, trees are generally less than 10-15 meters in height. So, nothing special... but goods birds are regularly spotted there.
The nearest good forests are 40-50km from here (Tam Dao, Ba Vi...).

I arrived when the sun was just beginning to cut through the fog. I flushed an Eurasian Woodcock in a crop field, and some minutes later I saw a raptor circling in the mist. I managed to get 2 shots before it disappeared.

Broad rounded wings, longish tail, mostly plain and pale underparts, three blackish tail-bands, broad rufous bars on belly, stripes on throat... I think everyone will be OK : Jerdon's Baza !

After this, the big guy I was waiting entered the scene, gliding slowly above the canopy, and landing on the highest tree of the area.

After a while, an another Crested Serpent-eagle appeared. Yes, two ! But clearly not the same age.

One is an adult; broad white band then broad black band can be seen along the trailing edge of the under-wing.

The other one is an immature, not a 1st calendar-year (whitish bellow according to the Robson guide), but a 2nd or 3rd cal-year I don't know.

But the perfect plumage and the swollen aspect of the secondaries recalls very much a juvenile raptor (1st winter), what do you think ?

Sebastien Delonglee

Crested Serpent-eagle at Hanoi !

Hi all,

A crazy end of afternoon (21 October) around the wooded area of the Red River Island, with 3 BIG surprises.

The first one was a Racket-tailed Treepie, perching on top an isolated tree, not far from the edge. What the hell this guy is doing here, in the agricultural plain ?! I first thought it was a Drongo so I didn't pay much attention, until I noticed its characteristic head shape and bill.
The second one is much bigger - and I am sure you will not believe me :(

While I was in the wooded area watching for the slightest movement inside the dense vegetation, I saw a large raptor flying between the trees and landing on a branch at 30-40 meters in front of me. I put my bins on it and I could not believe my eyes : a Crested Serpent-eagle ! An adult (black nuchal crest, brown below, bright yellow cere/face-skin). During 20 seconds, I enjoyed great views. It finally detected me as I was moving a little bit to find a `hole` in the vegetation in order to try some shots.

The third one appeared just before sunset : two medium-sized raptors landing at the edge of the wooded area. I first thought it was 2 Oriental Honey-Buzzards but when I put my bins on them, I noticed their long crests. I am now almost certain it is Jerdon's Baza, a species already recorded on this patch (by Simon, last April)

Despite the distance, I tried some shots. That's not the best photos in the world, but maybe enough to confirm the ID.
The long erectile crest is well visible on the pic below.





Apart those 4 guys, I spotted :

- 1 Thick-billed Warbler

- 1 Accipiter sp

- 1 Spangled Drongo

- 1 local Black-shouldered Kite (still not exterminate ?!)

- 1 female Asian Koel

- 1 Homo hunter ssp vietnamensis, dressed in full camouflage (even the hat)...


Sebastien

Central Vietnam - 40km West of Nha Trang (Sept 02)

Family weekend in Nha Trang, and I managed to get a morning pass, shooting off to a patch of forest 40km to the west. Lots of great birds again, and some good images. There are two birds I cannot ID (and there were no takers on Birdforum either) - images, with descriptions, below. Also saw many birds that I had no chance to identify or photograph.

The birds currently were:

• Bea-eater-Chestnut capped


• Bluebird-Asian fairy


• Bulbul-Grey eyed


• Bulbul-Sooty Headed


• Coucal-Greater


• Drongo-Ashy (both mouhoti and the more common races)


• Drongo-Black


• Eagle-Crested serpent


• Flycatcher-Darksided


• Iora-Common


• Iora-Great


• Kingfisher-White throated


• Kingfisher-Common


• Leafbird-Blue winged


• Malkoha-Green billed


• Minivet-Scarlet


• Minivet-Long tailed


• Monarch-Black naped


• Sunbird-Crimson


• Swallow-Barn


• Wagtail-Forest


• Wagtail-Grey


• Woodpecker-Unidentified (small, B&W, plain wings, big head on small neck, no easily visible red, very good singer, varied song)

When I saw the bird below, I initially thought it was yet another Drongo, but when scoped, there was blue on it. As I watched, I saw it dive and catch something from the surface of a small lake three times before it disappeared. Multiple images, as none are so clear.

This bird sat very still in the bamboo. When a small brown bird (sorry) caught a moth / butterfly and was sitting on the ground with it, this bird dive-bombed the smaller bird a couple of times before disappearing.

And a few images I just like. LOL

Asian fairy bluebird

Black Naped Monarch

Green-billed Malkoha

Dark sided Flycatcher

Wayne