Pied Harriers - Hanoi (II)

Some new photos of Pied Harriers taken at the Red River Island. Now two males are sharing the area but they don't seem to like each other very much!

A male arrive... I am well hidden, not behind a bush like before but under a camouflage net

Hovering few seconds low over cultures

Prey sighted...

Finally it catch a rodent not far from me!

Hm..hm.. maybe it has spotted me...

Suddenly, it fly off...

fly over me...

and land 100 meters away, still holding its prey

And finish its meal

This rather interesting harrier flew over me. The plumage is not typical for a juv Pied, which would normally have a uniformly chestnut brown body and vent. This one have whitish streaking in the breast, a greyish head. Typical 1st winter Pied is also fairly plain brown above, but this one show a grey background to its primaries.

I don't know if it is a 2nd winter bird - I am guessing so - or a 1st winter starting to show some signs of adult plumage, probably a female ?

Sebastien

Mandarin and Tufted Ducks at Ba Be

Hi all!

If any of you want to see the rare ducks, please come up to Ba Be lake. There are six Mandarin and 1 Tufted Ducks around. I have also seen 1 Water Rail at Van Long NR.

Cheers!

Hung Le

Cuu Thac Tu Son

Some birding trips are more notable for the lack of birds seen, and this was close to one. I had 90 minutes here, late in the afternoon. With glorious blue skies, light wind and it was just nice to be outside, and hopes were high. From the very bottom, all the way up to 500m after where you jump across the stream on boulders, the only bird seen was a solitary Common Tailor-bird.

Before returning, I sat by the track for 10 minutes, and saw a White-crowned Forktail, and then had great views of three Collared Babblers. Finally things were turning, I thought. Not really - the downwards stroll only produced 3 Red-whiskered Bulbuls, as well as one each of the (almost) always seen Plumbeous & White-capped water Redstarts.

Lets hope the next few days produce better!!!

Wayne Hodgkinson

Few days in Hoi An

A family trip to Hoi An gave me an hour or so each morning to have a dig around.

The coastal scrub was quieter than usual, although I could hear Coucal, Koel and Plantive cuckoos. On Friday morning I did see a Blue rock thrush (Philippensis subspecies - brick red chest) on my hotel-room roof - ironic when your days best bird is before you step out the door. There do seem to be a lot more Myna around this year (Common & White vented). On my last morning, back in the scrub, I startled a pair of Nightjars. Combining the images with the very white wing spots when they flew, I presume they were Large-tailed Nightjar.

I also walked into the wetlands on Saturday morning. All the usual waders were there, but I got great views of a White-browed Crake and the Snipe in the image below. Any help with identifying the Snipe further greatly appreciated.

If only I had my big camera lens - soon they say...

Wayne Hodgkinson

Ruby Saturday - Hanoi

Morning photo stroll along the channel of the Red River Island this morning, in the rain. Spotted a cracking male Siberian Rubythroat, one of the birder's delight - and not only in the UK but here also in Vietnam where this species is a fairly common winter visitor.
I saw it bathing and, more surprising, singing !
This guy was skulking in the undergrowth of a small garden but perched high in a bush to sing.
I decided to share here the serie "M.Ruby in the bath" despite the low quality ("action scene" with low light + high ISO = no miracle); I just find those pics funny...

Singing ! - the icing on the cake.

Female Daurian Redstart in the same area. Very shy bird, this shot was the best I could manage. The white wing-patches and the reddish tail/rump are obvious features.

Sebastien

Lancy !

Noon photo stroll today along the small channel of the Red River Island-Hanoi, with highlight being a Lanceolated Warbler - a lifer for me. Some other skulking little brown jobs appeared few seconds in the reed bed along the trail which overhang the channel.


Sébastien Delonglee