Crocias - the good & the bad news

Grey-crowned Crocias in Dalat bird shop

Poorly-looking OBLT in same bird shop

Site of proposed restaurant, Ta Nung Valley

In Dalat for a few days and the good news is despite the mess at Ta Nung Valley where the long-awaited eco-tourism resort construction (er, make that destruction) has finally begun there were still plenty of Grey-crowned Crocias about this morning. Orange-breasted Laughingthrush were singing and most the other Ta Nung Valley stars where out and about. Crocias were also very vocal and found in good numbers at Ho Tuyen Lam.

Now for the not so good news, and there always has to be some of that I am afraid, Luyen and I also found Grey-crowned Crocias and Orange-breasted Laugingthrush in a bird shop in Dalat. Apologies for poor quality mobile phone photos.

Richard Craik

Dalat Tuyen Lam Lake

I had a pretty good morning at my favourite area at Tuyen Lam Lake in Dalat. 56 species seen (not including various Phyllos warblers due to lack of ID-skills).
Just some of the nicer ones: Black-hooded and Collared Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias, Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Chestnut-fronted Shrike-babbler and (Dalat) White-browed Shrike Babbler, Eye-browed Wren-babbler, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Indochinese Green Magpie, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Little Pied Flycatcher, White-tailed Robin, Maroon and Slender-billed Oriole, Burmese Shrike, Black-collared and Vinous-breasted Starling, Streaked Spiderhunter, Bay Woodpecker, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Greater Flameback.
Quite a pleasant change from city birding...
Cheers, Florian