Hanoi: Some autumn passage records, 19th Sept.-3rd Oct. 2016

The past 15 days have seen much less migrants passing through Hanoi compared to the 2 first weeks of September. The weather is now probably too good ; many migrants simply passed through without stopping. Unfortunately, no overcast skies, contrary winds or rain in the forecast for the next few days.

The lush microforest at Vuon Nhan yielded both Hill Blue and Chinese Blue Flycatchers, 2 other Brown-breasted Flycatchers (on 20th Sept. and 3rd Oct.), Brown-chested Jungle Flycatchers regularly seen, three species of Drongos (Hair-crested and Ashy D. (leucogenis/salangensis and hopwoodi races) in the wood, Black D. in the open landscape), first Siberian Rubythroat on 2nd October, Siberian Blue Robins often seen/heard (mostly female but also 1 stunning ad. male and 1cy male), the first Orange-headed Thrush of the autumn on 20th Sept., 3-4 individuals on 3rd Oct., first Sulphur-breasted Warblers on 21th, often in mixed-species foraging flocks with Japanese White-eyes, resident Cinerous Tits, Pylloscs ssp. (Arctic, Claudia's, Eastern Crowned...), Amur Paradise Flycatchers...

First Baikal Bush-warbler and Black-browed Reed Warbler of the autumn on 25th. Pale-footed Bush Warbler heard on 3rd October. Seicercus warblers seen at almost each visits - didn’t call and therefore remained unidentified.
1 Black-capped Kingfisher and 1 Dollarbird on 2nd October. The same day, a lone Chestnut-crowned Warbler (excellent bird for the city!) and the first Grey-headed Canary-flycatchers of the season.

Some passage of Black-winged Cuckooshrikes also. A secretive Chestnut-winged Cuckoo noted on 21th, a Nightjar sp. (likeky Grey N.) photographed the 20th by Tuong Bach, 2 Wrynecks and 1 passage migrant Hoopoe on 21th. And another juvenile Malayan Night Heron on 29th.

No sighting of Tiger Shrike anymore (early autumn migrant), and much less Amur Paradise Flycatchers than 2 weeks ago. Few sightings of Yellow-rumped Fycatchers also (in Hanoi, most of autumn records are in the last ten days of August and the first twenty days of September) and none of Asian Koels (regularly seen at the beginning of September).

Mid-September, near Vuon Nhan, the mudflats along the Red River at Vinh Thuy bridge also yielded 90+ Grey-headed Lapwings.
At Botanical Gardens, a gorgeous male Siberian Thrush found on 3rd Oct..

In the same area (Vuon Nhan), Tom Kompier also spotted at least 8 Blue-throated Bee-eaters and 1 Thick-billed Green Pigeon on 24th Sept.- both are interesting records for Hanoi. Sightings of  Treron in the city are scarce (the other one recorded here is Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon). Most green pigeons are noted wanderers so there is always the possibility of encountering vagrants in unusual locations. 

And last but not least, Tom's girlfriend, Kameliya, found 3 Red-necked Phalaropes on 28th Sept. at West Lake, the largest lake of the city. Two individuals (juveniles) were still there on 29th, 30th Sept.and 1st Oct. incredibly tame as usual. At the Phalarope's spot, I spotted on 30th a distant flock of 7 unidentified Terns.

At this time of year, considering the number of bird photographers at Vuon Nhan and other small woodlots, we go out not hoping, but expecting to get interesting records. Recently, we have rarely been disappointed. Hey guys, keep up the great work and don't forget to share with me your data (species, count, location and date)  - and not only beautiful images on Facebook ;) !


Sébastien

Male Siberian Thrush, 3rd Oct., Botanical Gardens

It's been too long since I've seen this Thrush, my favorite one, in Hanoi. What a fantastic bird, both beautiful and elusive. The second Zoothera thrush seen this autumn. Turdus thrushes will arrive later (usually in late Oct.-early Nov.).

Male Orange-headed Thrush (top), Vuon Nhan, 28th Sept.
Female Orange-headed Thrush (below), Botanical Gardens, 3rd Oct.
Like the microforest of Vuon Nhan, the Botanical Gardens is a very effective migrant trap.

Brown-brested Flycatcher, Vuon Nhan. A scarce but regular passage migrant

Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes/borealoides, Vuon Nhan. As is usually the case, because the bird in this photo was not singing (passage migrants can sing in spring), I was unable to identify it beyond the level of Pale-legged/Sakhalin

Juvenile Red-necked Phalarope, West Lake, 29th Sept.
A scarce passage migrant in Vietnam, mostly recorded along the coast in C. and S. Annam, Cochinchina, sometimes in large flocks at coastal aquaculture ponds. Also regularly recorded inland in the Da Lat Plateau. Rarer in the North, recorded at least from Xuan Thuy N.P.

Very tame, most approachable of all waders

Female Black-naped Monarch, Vuon Nhan

Female Siberian Blue Robin, Vuon Nhan

1st calendar year male Siberian Blue Robin, Vuon Nhan

Male Hill Blue Flycatcher, Vuon Nhan

Same individual

1st calendar year Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Vuon Nhan

Same individual, close-up on head

1st calendar year Dark-sided Flycatcher, Vuon Nhan, so weak and exhausted it cannot stand on a perch

Chestnut-crowned Warbler, 2nd October, Vuon Nhan
Scarce migrant (altitudinal I think) in Hanoi, all records in autumn (previous ones: 10th Oct. 2013, mid-Nov. 2014)

Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Vuon Nhan

Claudia's Leaf Warbler, 2nd Oct., Vuon Nhan - a common passage migrant

Black-browed Reed Warbler, 25th Sept., Vuon Nhan 

Juvenile Malayan Night Heron playing hide-and-seek, 29th Sept, Vuon Nhan

Hanoi - migration in full swing

Hi all,

The autumn migration season here in Hanoi has kicked off in style. Leading the parade of migrants was Fairy Pitta, found at "Vuon nhan Vinh Thuy" on 5 Sept. 2016 and still there on 12. Another notable sightings include up to 4 Brown-chested Jungle Flycatchers, Hainan Blue, Brown-breasted Flycatchers, 1 fem and 1 male juv. Siberian Blue Robins, Hill/Chinese Blue Flycatchers (1 male and lots of females lol), 5-10 Amur Paradise Flycatchers with among them 1 white-morph, 1 Malayan Night Heron...

Concerning Fairy Pitta, this is the second record of this endangered species in Hanoi, the first time last year during spring passage. They stayed there for a week (from September 05 to 12). I checked the site yesterday but didn't find them anymore. I loooove Pittas, so till the day I found them in Hanoi, I came everyday and had excellent photo opportunities. Many birders came to see it and no one came back empty-handed!

I already photographed 4 Pitta species (Blue-rumped, Blue, Bar-bellied and Fairy). I intend to photograph all Pitta species in Vietnam, a good challenge :)

About the Malayan Night Heron: this is not the first record in Hanoi. My friend PHAM HONG PHUONG photograph an individual on April 15, 2016 (Pls check the shot below)

Happy birding!

Hoang Le

PS: Sorry for poor image quality, I didn't have enough time for post-processing... Have to head to Tam Dao now... Birds awaiting me lol.

* Some notes concerning the habitat: the patch is a 3ha lychee orchard (old trees). Most of the birds, notably Fairy Pittas and Brown-chested Jungle Flycatchers, were found in the dense, unmanaged scrubby edges (an area of ca 50m x 20m) composed by the pioneer species Broussonetia papyrifera and Ficus sp. (trees), Flueggea virosa (shrubs) and ferns (understorey). The Pittas were mostly seen foraging on the ground, but sometimes perched on branches just before to come at the photography set.

Hainan Blue Flycatcher

Brown-Breasted Flycatcher

Fairy Pitta

Malayan Night Heron - a great bird for the city!

Amur Paradise Flycatcher

Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher

male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

female Cyornis sp.

1cy male Siberian Blue Robin

Malayan Night Heron, by Pham Hong Phuong, 15th April 2016 (1st record for the city?)

Hanoi: Fairy Pittas still there

Five days after being found, the 2 Fairy Pittas are still hanging around. Today I installed my hide few hours near the hides of Hoang and fellow photographers - many thanks to you! Had fantastic views at close range. Hey guys, everyone spotted them, everyone got sharp shots from every angles, maybe it's time now to stop feeding them and let them go. They have still a long way to go and the area is not really safe - poachers roamed around.

Some other migrants seen around: Hainan, Mugimaki, Hill/Chinese Blue, Brown-breasted, Yellow-rumped Flycatchers, 2-3 Black-naped Monarchs, 1 female and 1juv. male Siberian Blue Robin, 1 Spangled Drongo (singing), 2 Brown-chested Jungle Flycatchers, 1 Little Cuckoo-Dove (seen and photographed by Tuan Tran) and 1 Malayan Night Heron - the two latter in all likelihood are first records for the city.

juv. (bill flesh-based) Amur Paradise Flycatcher

Cuc Phuong NP, 24-6-2012

Hi all,

A morning spent around the Loop trail at Bong Substation in Cuc Phuong produced only few exciting birds, although the morning drive started off good with at least 5 Malayan Night Herons and 2 Bar-bellied Pittas being flushed off the road.

First birds seen at the start of the Loop trail included a couple of smart Rufous-throated Fulvettas. A Chestnut-necklaced (Tonkin) Partridge was calling close by but didn't show itself. The usual suspects turned up further along the trail with plenty of Buff-breasted and Grey-throated Babblers. A few flycatchers showed up near the 1000-year-old tree, including many Black-naped Monarchs, 1 nice-looking male Asian Paradise Flycatcher, 1 female Fujian Niltava as well as 2 Hainan Blue Flycatchers. Mostly passerines were encountered during the walk but woodpeckers were heard and seen too - mainly Bay Woodpeckers and Greater Yellownapes but 1 woodpecker that was heard sounded reminiscent to Red-collared.

Just before the ancient tree a small birdwave consisted of Limestone Leaf-warbler, White-bellied Erpornis, Black-browed Fulvetta and again, Rufous-throated Fulvetta.
Towards the end of the trail a pitta-sized brown bird was flushed.

2 Yellow-bellied Warblers and a flock of Brown-backed Needletails finished off the morning's birding.

Nothing of interest was seen on the way out of the park.

Cheers,
Falk

Cuc Phuong NP, Van Long NR, 10 - 12/06/2011

Hi all,

A relatively productive weekend in Cuc Phuong produced the following species, amongst others:

- Eared Pitta (Loop Trail, heard only)
- Bar-bellied Pitta (1 heard, Loop Trail; 1 crossing the road between Bong and HQ)
- Malayan Night Heron (at least 2 seen well on Saturday morning along the road around "Early Man Cave", and again 2 ind. on Sunday)
- Maroon Oriole (Valley Trail)
- Silver-breasted Broadbill (Loop Trail)

plus good views of Red-headed Trogons, Rufous-throated Fulvettas, Grey-throated Babblers, Dollarbirds, Sultan Tit, Limestone Wren Babbler, Hainan Blue Flycatcher and White-tailed Flycatcher.

Van Long was a treat as usual, with excellent views of Delacour's Langurs. Avian delights included, Black Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, Yellow Bittern, White-browed Crake, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, as well as a few White-shouldered Starlings.

Cheers,
Stephan, Daniel, Falk

Cuc Phuong NP - Part ll

Hi all,

still hot, still flycatcher food around plus the additional leech. In other words - perfect conditions to stay home! Well, I didn't, so I had to face all of the above obstacles while checking the Valley Trail from Bong Substation. Generally a very quiet day.
En route to Bong a Malayan Night Heron was flushed from the road (unpurposefully!).

Bong itself held not so many birds with 3 Arctic Warblers, a mixed group of Greater Yellownapes and Bay Woodpeckers being the more interesting ones.

The Valley Trail was a bit more birdy. Notable species/numbers were:
about 24(!) Greater Yellownapes along the trail (just a rough guess, maybe more), about 5 Bay Woodpeckers, 1 female Pale-headed Woodpecker, 1 Bar-bellied Pitta (heard only), couple of Limestone Wren Babblers, 2 Rufous-capped Babblers, 1 White-tailed Flycatcher, about 10 Hill Mynas, gazillions of Crow-billed Drongos and Asian Paradise Flycatchers.

And again a Crab-eating Mongoose was seen right at the beginning of the trail and gave excellent views!

4 gunshots were heard, too. Apparently hunters tend to shoot these days more than they trap - no wonder, now that they snared everything (apart from smaller mammals).

Cheers,
Falk