Hi all,
A morning spent around the Loop trail at Bong Substation in Cuc Phuong produced only few exciting birds, although the morning drive started off good with at least 5 Malayan Night Herons and 2 Bar-bellied Pittas being flushed off the road.
First birds seen at the start of the Loop trail included a couple of smart Rufous-throated Fulvettas. A Chestnut-necklaced (Tonkin) Partridge was calling close by but didn't show itself. The usual suspects turned up further along the trail with plenty of Buff-breasted and Grey-throated Babblers. A few flycatchers showed up near the 1000-year-old tree, including many Black-naped Monarchs, 1 nice-looking male Asian Paradise Flycatcher, 1 female Fujian Niltava as well as 2 Hainan Blue Flycatchers. Mostly passerines were encountered during the walk but woodpeckers were heard and seen too - mainly Bay Woodpeckers and Greater Yellownapes but 1 woodpecker that was heard sounded reminiscent to Red-collared.
Just before the ancient tree a small birdwave consisted of Limestone Leaf-warbler, White-bellied Erpornis, Black-browed Fulvetta and again, Rufous-throated Fulvetta.
Towards the end of the trail a pitta-sized brown bird was flushed.
2 Yellow-bellied Warblers and a flock of Brown-backed Needletails finished off the morning's birding.
Nothing of interest was seen on the way out of the park.
Cheers,
Falk
24 June 2012
22 June 2012
Nha Trang and Mui Ne (& not Dalat)
You have got to love the Vietnamese block on many web and blog sites. While I can access our blog from Hanoi, no such joy from Nha Trang or Mui Ne, but when I used Tor Project, to hide my location, no problems at all. The same goes for my friends Gerry's blog of Birds from Thailand and beyond, which I cannot access from Hanoi either (unless I use Tor). Might be worth remembering, if you will be travelling around Vietnam and want to access these blogs.
For my last 2 weeks in Vietnam, I had organised 4 days in Dalat, followed by leaving the family in Mui Ne, and heading off for a Pilgrimage to Cat Tien. For the first time, I memorized the endemics there, and their calls. It was not to be. Terrible weather in Dalat meant the Vietnam Airlines flights were cancelled, so a rapid change of plan was needed - Nah Trang it was. Bugger!
I obtained a morning pass up to Yen Bay, but it was very poor birding compared to previous trips, with no birds of note, in the forests, broken scrub edges, or rivers.
A few days later driving to Mui Ne, we saw a Hoopoe, which I thought was interesting, until I saw how many there were around Mui Ne. The other bird that interested me (as I have seen no crows in Vietnam) was a solitary crow, in Minh Chau, about 40km north of Mui Ne, which I tentatively identified as a House Crow. I saw not one raptor so far on this trip, which is kind of strange.
I did not have high hopes of birding around Mui Ne, but have had some interesting moments. Yesterday afternoon, like a fool I walked up the hills, in the heat, into the (almost) desert. I saw a very large brown owl, but before I could get near enough to ID it, a group of myna ganged up and chased it away. I kept seeing either yellow or dull coloured sunbirds in the more arid areas. Not where I would expect to see Olive-backed sun-birds. It took me two days until I finally saw a male and could clinch the ID. Seems to be a real gender imbalance here, and they are not where Robson suggests. Some plain backed sparrows took me a long time to ID as well, as I failed to see the grey strip on the top of their heads. LOL.
This morning I was the first person up Fairy Stream. Lots of both Chestnut-capped and Green Bee-eaters close up are always cool to see. A juvenile Yellow-vented bulbul (I think) sat within metres of me, which was nice (image below). Right at the top of the valley, just above the waterfall, I saw a red woodpecker. When it flew, it presented similar colours to a Coucal, and when perched on the coconut trees, the head and back appeared uniformly coloured (at a large distance), but shading to a darker tail. The darker bill lead me to call Rufous, rather than Bay Woodpecker. No time for good images, and it was gone when I thought I was closer, but if anyone can confirm from the poor image below, thanks in advance.
As I write this, a very pale coloured tern, with very slender wings, and a largish bill, is working up the beach against the wind. Terntatively, using Robson I think it is a Gull-billed tern.
Wayne
For my last 2 weeks in Vietnam, I had organised 4 days in Dalat, followed by leaving the family in Mui Ne, and heading off for a Pilgrimage to Cat Tien. For the first time, I memorized the endemics there, and their calls. It was not to be. Terrible weather in Dalat meant the Vietnam Airlines flights were cancelled, so a rapid change of plan was needed - Nah Trang it was. Bugger!
I obtained a morning pass up to Yen Bay, but it was very poor birding compared to previous trips, with no birds of note, in the forests, broken scrub edges, or rivers.
A few days later driving to Mui Ne, we saw a Hoopoe, which I thought was interesting, until I saw how many there were around Mui Ne. The other bird that interested me (as I have seen no crows in Vietnam) was a solitary crow, in Minh Chau, about 40km north of Mui Ne, which I tentatively identified as a House Crow. I saw not one raptor so far on this trip, which is kind of strange.
I did not have high hopes of birding around Mui Ne, but have had some interesting moments. Yesterday afternoon, like a fool I walked up the hills, in the heat, into the (almost) desert. I saw a very large brown owl, but before I could get near enough to ID it, a group of myna ganged up and chased it away. I kept seeing either yellow or dull coloured sunbirds in the more arid areas. Not where I would expect to see Olive-backed sun-birds. It took me two days until I finally saw a male and could clinch the ID. Seems to be a real gender imbalance here, and they are not where Robson suggests. Some plain backed sparrows took me a long time to ID as well, as I failed to see the grey strip on the top of their heads. LOL.
This morning I was the first person up Fairy Stream. Lots of both Chestnut-capped and Green Bee-eaters close up are always cool to see. A juvenile Yellow-vented bulbul (I think) sat within metres of me, which was nice (image below). Right at the top of the valley, just above the waterfall, I saw a red woodpecker. When it flew, it presented similar colours to a Coucal, and when perched on the coconut trees, the head and back appeared uniformly coloured (at a large distance), but shading to a darker tail. The darker bill lead me to call Rufous, rather than Bay Woodpecker. No time for good images, and it was gone when I thought I was closer, but if anyone can confirm from the poor image below, thanks in advance.
As I write this, a very pale coloured tern, with very slender wings, and a largish bill, is working up the beach against the wind. Terntatively, using Robson I think it is a Gull-billed tern.
Wayne
13 June 2012
Birding Lo Xo, 9-6-2012
Hi all,
First things first - I missed the bloody barwing.
Minh who was with me tried his hardest (and so did I) to see the little critters but only the briefest of views were had. I saw a tail in the middle of a climber that might have belonged to the Black-crowned Barwing but certainly not tickable for me.
Looking at no barwings, shitty habitat and bad weather
The weather was terrible. Wind greeted us on arrival. Not long after rain joined in. Birding was everything else but pleasant.
Black Eagles scanning for food...
...including barwings?
A few other species were seen at Lo Xo, including plenty of Black-collared Starlings and Flavescent Bulbuls. Black Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagle, Jerdon's Baza, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Grey-cheeked Warbler, a possible Rufous-backed Sibia, Plumbeous Water Redstart, gazillions of Long-tailed Shrikes and White-breasted Kingfishers were seen too.
Grey-bellied Tesia, Hill Prinia and Indochinese Green Magpie were heard only.
Black-collared Starling with something (not a barwing).
Crappy shot but it's a Jerdon's Baza.
The day started promising with 2 Mountain Imperial Pigeons, a couple of Red-breasted Parakeets and a few Racket-tailed Treepies on our way to Kham Duc. Unfortunately, the main target didn't reveal itself but the day ended with Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and a House Sparrow in Hoi An.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater near Hoi An.
Germany had won, so it wasn't too bad after all. Well, actually it was...
Huge thanks to Minh for his company, birding skills and safe driving!
Cheers,
Falk
First things first - I missed the bloody barwing.
Minh who was with me tried his hardest (and so did I) to see the little critters but only the briefest of views were had. I saw a tail in the middle of a climber that might have belonged to the Black-crowned Barwing but certainly not tickable for me.
The weather was terrible. Wind greeted us on arrival. Not long after rain joined in. Birding was everything else but pleasant.
A few other species were seen at Lo Xo, including plenty of Black-collared Starlings and Flavescent Bulbuls. Black Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagle, Jerdon's Baza, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Grey-cheeked Warbler, a possible Rufous-backed Sibia, Plumbeous Water Redstart, gazillions of Long-tailed Shrikes and White-breasted Kingfishers were seen too.
Grey-bellied Tesia, Hill Prinia and Indochinese Green Magpie were heard only.
The day started promising with 2 Mountain Imperial Pigeons, a couple of Red-breasted Parakeets and a few Racket-tailed Treepies on our way to Kham Duc. Unfortunately, the main target didn't reveal itself but the day ended with Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and a House Sparrow in Hoi An.
Germany had won, so it wasn't too bad after all. Well, actually it was...
Huge thanks to Minh for his company, birding skills and safe driving!
Cheers,
Falk
29 May 2012
Weekend in Tuyen Quang
I finally got to Tuyen Quang, and in between the rain got out and about a bit. On Friday just as it was getting dark, our bus slid off the road, so we had to walk the last km or so to our accommodation. I saw 6 small dark-coloured raptors (pointy wings and narrow tails), which I take to be some type of Falcon (with no certainty) circling a tree slowly. I though they could be the tail-end of the migration looking for a roost for the night, then two broke off and flew away. Interesting.
Saturday morning stroll early around the irrigation dam showed many cinnamon bitterns and two female Watercock (separate from each other) and one bizarre pale-grey bird. Its body feathers were fluffed up and it had a black bib and no feathers on its head. The bib suggested no to what it was thinking, and now I think it was a rather sick white alboides wagtail. I then walked up into the Acacia forest, as I could hear a few calls from in there. After fleeting views of a couple of babbler species, I came across two Eyebrowed Thrushes. A nice way to end the day.
Sunday morning and the irrigation dam was close to birdless. I worked up through the Acacia to the top ridge and saw nothing. I heard a three bar call and imitated it. In no time I was being circled by 2-3 agitated red-brown birds with whiter heads and dark eye-stripes. When I could not get a photo, I recorded the call with my cellphone. A better description and the recording are attached to this post on Birdforum). Sunday afternoon and we took the kids to a cave, where we walked up a track up a limestone cliff, covered in scrub and small trees. I let the kids get well away and sat. There were plenty of birds moving around, again mostly unphotographed or described. A female Black-Naped Monarch gave me troubles to ID until the male arrived, as did a striped Tit-Babbler.
Wayne
Saturday morning stroll early around the irrigation dam showed many cinnamon bitterns and two female Watercock (separate from each other) and one bizarre pale-grey bird. Its body feathers were fluffed up and it had a black bib and no feathers on its head. The bib suggested no to what it was thinking, and now I think it was a rather sick white alboides wagtail. I then walked up into the Acacia forest, as I could hear a few calls from in there. After fleeting views of a couple of babbler species, I came across two Eyebrowed Thrushes. A nice way to end the day.
Sunday morning and the irrigation dam was close to birdless. I worked up through the Acacia to the top ridge and saw nothing. I heard a three bar call and imitated it. In no time I was being circled by 2-3 agitated red-brown birds with whiter heads and dark eye-stripes. When I could not get a photo, I recorded the call with my cellphone. A better description and the recording are attached to this post on Birdforum). Sunday afternoon and we took the kids to a cave, where we walked up a track up a limestone cliff, covered in scrub and small trees. I let the kids get well away and sat. There were plenty of birds moving around, again mostly unphotographed or described. A female Black-Naped Monarch gave me troubles to ID until the male arrived, as did a striped Tit-Babbler.
21 May 2012
Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler - Cuu Thac
"What the hell this Tây ba lô* is doing near my nest !"
(* Westerner with bagpack in Vietnamese, translation for those who are not living here!)
Yesterday I went to Cuu Thac-Tu Son (Hoa Binh province), not for bird watching but for chasing dragonflies - my favorite summer pastime. It is difficult to focuse on both groups at the same time, but I always keep an `open ear` for birds. I brought with me the 400 mm lens to prevent this possible tragic situation : Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbills in front of me but only the 100 mm macro in the bag.. arghh..!
"Chim cút đi ! Chim cút đi !"
(Get the f... out of here !)
Near the place where we saw Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill & Collared Babblers few weeks ago, I flushed at very short distance a Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler. It flew not far, turned around me, insulted me copiously, so I guessed there was something special hidden somewhere (nest or chicks). Indeed, after a short search, I found a nest on the ground, on a big slope, within low (20 cm) grassy vegetation, only half-meter from the path ! An open-cup nest, rather deep, with 3 white eggs inside. Altitude : ca 500-550 m (a bit low for this montane species, isn't it ?)
Three hours later, on the way back, I flushed it again - no solution to avoid this, there is only one trail !
Other interesting species spotted : 1 noisy Green Magpie - I don`t know which one...
Sebastien
13 May 2012
Van Long - Asian Openbills still around!
Hi all,
A morning spent at Van Long Nature Reserve revealed the hoped-for Openbill storks!
At least 29 were counted!
Other birds seen included (amongst others),
Yellow, Cinnamon and Black bittern, Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Purple Swamphen, Little Grebes with chicks, White-browed Crakes, 1 possible Ruddy-breasted Crake, White-breasted and Common Kingfishers, Common Moorhen, Oriental Reed Warbler.
It was great to see that once very common countryside birds (now absent from many areas, especially in northern VN) like Crested Mynas, White-shouldered Starlings, Scaly-breasted Munias and Paddyfield Pipits are doing well at Van Long.
Unfortunately a lot of fishing / collecting went on in the wetland areas.
No Bonelli's eagles or Watercocks.
We didn't try for the langurs but opted for some cold beers at the excellent Van Long Restaurant instead. There we saw 2 pretty late warblers - Eastern Crowned and Arctic.
Cheers,
Wayne Hodgkinson, John Parr, Falk Wicker
A morning spent at Van Long Nature Reserve revealed the hoped-for Openbill storks!
At least 29 were counted!
Other birds seen included (amongst others),
Yellow, Cinnamon and Black bittern, Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Purple Swamphen, Little Grebes with chicks, White-browed Crakes, 1 possible Ruddy-breasted Crake, White-breasted and Common Kingfishers, Common Moorhen, Oriental Reed Warbler.
It was great to see that once very common countryside birds (now absent from many areas, especially in northern VN) like Crested Mynas, White-shouldered Starlings, Scaly-breasted Munias and Paddyfield Pipits are doing well at Van Long.
Unfortunately a lot of fishing / collecting went on in the wetland areas.
No Bonelli's eagles or Watercocks.
We didn't try for the langurs but opted for some cold beers at the excellent Van Long Restaurant instead. There we saw 2 pretty late warblers - Eastern Crowned and Arctic.
Cheers,
Wayne Hodgkinson, John Parr, Falk Wicker
The stars of today
White-shouldered Starling
Cinnamon Bittern
Paddyfield Pipit
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)