Vietnam, May 26

Kat Tien National Park
Birding Day

While eating breakfast we notice a blue and green bird working the tree outside the lodge open-air dining room--it's a blue-winged leaf bird. I'm so excited! We've borrowed the Asia/local bird book from Ms. Mai, the Kat Tien Lodge owner.
We plan to go with a birding guide at 7 a.m. for the morning, but the rains hit at about 6:50 a.m. After lingering at breakfast and some sitting around admiring the view in the heat
the rains abate and we set out for a few hours' walk with our guide Mr. Trang.

There's a narrow concrete drive/trail from the lodge, past the Nat'l Park Headquarters, and to the end of the Nat'l Park land. One of our first birds to see is black and red broadbill, and then Mr. Trang spots its nest!

Along the way are two wildlife viewing towers and we climb each to see more from the tree top view.
One's a little wobbly and its second story is way too high for me once that sway is included.

Some more birds: Asian fairy blue bird (love the name, and the bird); violet cuckoo; red breasted parakeet--great bands of these guys, calling and flying around, and saw one feeding a juvenile. 


We're back at the lodge for a torpid afternoon, then go out again, this time riding in the back of a truck on plank seating and a grab bar.  We cruise and stop occasionally to walk out into the wetland.  Jim finds a porcupine quill!  We see two deer.  And many birds. We stop at the Ranger Station and have tea.  Did I mention that it's hot?

Tea at the ranger station

We're tired at the end of the day, about 6 hours of birding all together, and thanks to Mr. Trang we see about 50 species.

Our tent cabin on the river