Bach Ma NP 10th - 15th August

Hi everyone,

a 6 day trip to Bach Ma National Park revealed some good birds, though it was tough birding throughout with no access to higher elevations (from the Pheasant Trail on) and only being able to hike up the road. The upper part of the road towards the summit was blocked (road construction, which will continue for quite a while, apparently) and no vehicles were allowed inside the park.

Best birds seen/heard include: Annam Partridge (heard only; 100 metres away from the ranger's hut), Collared Scops Owl (heard only), Mountain Scops Owl (seen and heard; seems to be common), Brown Fish Owl (1 was heard calling on the night of the 14th-15th near the reception area; another Ketupa sp. was flushed near the Pheasant Trail on the 15th), Brown Hornbill (2 flyovers), 6 species of raptor, 3 species of bee-eater, Red-headed Trogon, Slaty-backed Forktail, Streaked Wren-babbler amongst others.
Mammals included gazillions of Tree-shrews, Red-bellied Squirrels, Taemiops-Squirrels, Yellow-throated Marten, 3 families of White-cheeked Gibbons.
Really quiet otherwise, with either unbearable heat or downpours.

Cheers,
Falk