Central Vietnam - 40km West of Nha Trang (Sept 02)

Family weekend in Nha Trang, and I managed to get a morning pass, shooting off to a patch of forest 40km to the west. Lots of great birds again, and some good images. There are two birds I cannot ID (and there were no takers on Birdforum either) - images, with descriptions, below. Also saw many birds that I had no chance to identify or photograph.

The birds currently were:

• Bea-eater-Chestnut capped


• Bluebird-Asian fairy


• Bulbul-Grey eyed


• Bulbul-Sooty Headed


• Coucal-Greater


• Drongo-Ashy (both mouhoti and the more common races)


• Drongo-Black


• Eagle-Crested serpent


• Flycatcher-Darksided


• Iora-Common


• Iora-Great


• Kingfisher-White throated


• Kingfisher-Common


• Leafbird-Blue winged


• Malkoha-Green billed


• Minivet-Scarlet


• Minivet-Long tailed


• Monarch-Black naped


• Sunbird-Crimson


• Swallow-Barn


• Wagtail-Forest


• Wagtail-Grey


• Woodpecker-Unidentified (small, B&W, plain wings, big head on small neck, no easily visible red, very good singer, varied song)

When I saw the bird below, I initially thought it was yet another Drongo, but when scoped, there was blue on it. As I watched, I saw it dive and catch something from the surface of a small lake three times before it disappeared. Multiple images, as none are so clear.

This bird sat very still in the bamboo. When a small brown bird (sorry) caught a moth / butterfly and was sitting on the ground with it, this bird dive-bombed the smaller bird a couple of times before disappearing.

And a few images I just like. LOL

Asian fairy bluebird

Black Naped Monarch

Green-billed Malkoha

Dark sided Flycatcher

Wayne

Hanoi (Gia Lam) Sunday 23rd August

Thought I would check out Sebastian's forest over in Gia Lam, for an early morning session. Were some cool birds around. Looks like will be a great holding spot during the migration.

• Cuckoo-Plaintive (many)


• Flycatcher-Yellow rumped (2+)


• Flycatcher-Unidentified (small, plain green wings, no wing bars, two pale stripes across top of head)


• Kingfisher-White throated (1)


• Shrike-brown (1)


• Tailorbird-Common (1)


• Wagtail-Forest (3-4)


• Warbler-Arctic (1+)


• White-eye-Japanese (lots)


• Other unidentified small warblers / flycatchers

Warbler-Arctic

Kingfisher-White throated

Wagtail-Forest

Wayne