BAO LOC & list 

VIETNAM

Region (Compass)

Lat:00^o00´S/00^o00´W 4,000ha topography msl 

Protected/registered status 

Best Time for visit (April 1997)

Birding Site Guide

5-10 kilometres south of this town there is a-forested valley which runs along the roadside. It must be possible to enter the valley possibly from the southern end, but it looked as though it would be hard work. From 6.00 to 9.30 am we walked along the road with our Toyota keeping a healthy distance. We had some very good birds including Green-billed Malkoa, Black Eagle, and Wreathed Hornbill. We drove north intending to start our visit in the Da Lat area, this being a change from our original plan. Just before the town of Da Lat we turned into a small airport that looked unused. Da Lat Lean Khuong Aerodrom was run down but still had friendly staff on hand to help point out the birds particularly the nesting Pacific Smfts. Our only Plaintive Cuckoo was added to the list, along with Oriental Great Reed Warbler and Brown Shrike. Da Lat Da Lat is the capital of the Lam Dong Province, and is a typical mountain town with numerous hotels, shopping facilities and restaurants. The weather here was hot but pleasant enough to stay out all day. 

Species seen

• Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis BL, HTL
• Thick-billed Pigeon Treron curvirostra BL
• Mountain Imperial-Pigeon Ducula badia BL, DW, HTL
• Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis BL, DW, CT, NDL
• Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis BL, CT, NDL
• House Swift Apus nipalensis many places
• Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata BL
• Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti BL, CT
• Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus BL
• Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata BL, CT
• Black-browed Barbet Megalaima oorti BL, HTL
• Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus BL
• Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus BL
• Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni BL, ML
• Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps BL, HTL
• Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus many places
• Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni BL, CT, NDL
• Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus BL, DW, HTL, ML
• Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius BL, ML
• Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus BL
• Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens BL
• Great Tit Parus major BL
• Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus BL
• Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile BL
• Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus BL
• Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus BL, CT, NDL
• Vinous-breasted Starling Acridotheres burmannicus many places
• Black-collared Starling Gracupica nigricollis many places
• Nutmeg Mannikin Lonchura punctulata many places

Author: BSG, Geof Grafton

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