BY THE TIME ANDRE JOINED US for dinner on Friday in Phong Nha, we had already seen 27 species—eight new ones for Connie. While it never actually rained on Thursday, the dense fog and drizzle made photography difficult to impossible. Fortunately, today was more or less a recon day and we can hope for more opportunities and better conditions.
Dense fog
Heavy Drizzle
Funnel-web Spider Web
The “official” bird for Saturday would have to be the lackluster Sooty Babler, recently rediscovered and found only here in Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park. It was difficult to see high up on the dark karst rock and nearly impossible to photograph in the morning fog.
Sooty Babbler, today's Target Bird
The new communism—Pay up or Get out!
Great Hornbll
Green-Earred Barbet
As the weather cleared the park rangers appeared—communists all—with hands out for a bribe. The birds also became more active and we were able to get better photos. Our “favorite” birds of the day were the unexpected Great Hornbill and the Green-eared Barbet. Total species today, 58—new species 14.
Pied Falconet
Orange-Bellied Leafbird
Necklaced Barbet
Streaked Spiderhunter
Today was the biggest day of birdings so far—we saw sixty-nine species with twelve of them new to us. Best of all, the weather was much better! it was a bit hazy when we spotted the Asian Barred Owlet, Asian Fairy Bluebird and Pied Falconet silhouetted against a gray sky but Connie managed to tweak the photos a bit. Colorful forest birds like Orange-billed Leafbird and Necklaced Barbet showed better, even the Streaked Spiderhunter with his long curvy bill stood our against the foliage.
Jerdon's Baza Rufous-Bellied Eagle
I even managed to capture a couple of high flying raptors; Jerdon’s Baza and a Rufous-bellied Eagle. But the bird of the day—at least the brightest shiny one—was the Crimson Sunbird sitting on a wild ginger plant.
