Good trip to Xuan Thuy, 4th to 6th October.
One long morning we (Richard and Florian) went to the outer island, the rest we birded around the shrimp ponds and the dike.
The tide was low on the morning but Truong had the very good idea not to land at the usual spot on the island but on the southern tip instead, which saved us a lot of wading and made things very comfortable, just 50 m through knee deep water. The island has changed drastically again, the long southern part that used to be a sparsely vegetated sand bank is now densely covered with man-high Casuarina trees. On the northern part, most of the tall trees have been cut and the northern tip is being quite eroded now. Reassuringly, the styrofoam and light-bulb cover of the island is still there.
Throughout the whole morning there was a constant flow of Black Drongos (certainly more than 2000), hundreds of Japanese Sparrowhawks and Barn Swallows drifting southwards. Very impressive. Otherwise we saw 2 Slaty-legged Crake, 1 Oriental Scops Owls, a few Pied Harriers, Oriental and Eurasian Hobby, 3 Wrynecks, 1 Siberian Thrush, lots of Oriental Cuckoos, Chestnut-winged Cuckoos and Koels, Dusky Warbler, Radde's Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, lots of Yellow-browed Warbler, a few Siberian Blue Robins, Asian Brown and Hainan Blue Flycatcher. Not too many smaller passerines yet, but also the extensive and very dense Casuarina growth made it difficult to find them.
The shrimps ponds had 10 Painted storks, 7 Black-faced Spoonbills, Spot-billed Ducks and Garganys. One morning there were several huge flocks of Black-crowned Night-herons circling above, undecided where to roost.
The mudflats in the ponds just opposite to the headquarter head a nice selection of waders, among the usual ones there where 2 Common Ringed Plover. 3 birds were Long-billed Dowitchers, we thought, but not 100% sure now that we learned that it would be only the 2nd record there.
The evening of 5th had big influx of Black-naped Orioles, quite a few roosted just around the accommodation at the headquarters
An Orange-headed Thrush was seen on the way back under some Casuarina trees along the dike.
Full list
here.
Birding trash island
The backs of Richard and Truong (Xuan Thuy NP staff)
Oriental Scops Owl watching us
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Scanning the shore at Con Luu island
View of the shrimps ponds
Amur Falcon spotted at 6 am along the dyke. A lifer for all of us, except Falk 
Other species recorded included the usual menagerie of waders, ducks and two gull species (Black-Headed and Heuglin’s). Combing through the Casuarina pine stands produced Grey Nightjar and several forest species including Large Hawk Cuckoo and Chinese Blackbird. Various small flycatchers and/or warblers were seen flitting in and out of the Casuarina but the dense stands prevented any good views.
Black-faced Spoonbills, one of the most wanted birds at Xuan Thuy 
A group of Black-tailed Godwits
At the end of the trip, we bumped into this leucistic Black-tailed Godwit
From left to right : Truong (NP staff), Daniel, Falk, Matt
A Large Hawk Cuckoo flushed in a Casuarina stand at Con Luu island
Group of adults Heuglin’s Gulls 
Adult Heuglin’s Gull 
1st winter Heuglin’s Gull (for large gulls ID, good link here)
Intertidal mudflats and mangroves at Con Luu island
Wood hut of local fishermen. Fishing and shellfish harvesting 
"Chim này la chim gì ? To quá nhỉ ? Chắc là ăn nó rất ngon"
