Late Summer/Autumn Arrivals in Central Vietnam: August–October 2025




Late summer/early autumn is an exciting time of year for birding in central Vietnam. The resident bird population is much augmented by the arrival of winter visitors, and a further injection of passage migrants and a sprinkling of vagrants add to the overall excitement of the migration season.

By Maurizio Saroli

Between mid August and mid October 2025, I recorded a steady build-up of winter visitors (53 species in total) across several sites in Danang and Hoi An. The records span a range of habitats—wetland, coastal, forest edge—and reflect typical seasonal movement for the region. Monitoring ended in mid October with the arrival of the monsoon which put a halt to birding activity.

The earliest observations came from wetland habitats. On 12 August, I recorded Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) in fairly large numbers (55 individuals). By 21 August, Eastern Cattle Egret (Ardea coromanda) and White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) were present. Eastern Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) was seen on 22 August, and Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia), Striated Heron (Butorides striata) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) were all noted on 25 August.

Forest-edge and scrub migrants began appearing from late August. Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) was seen on 26 August, on Son Tra peninsula, followed by Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) on 8 September, Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) on 20 September, and Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus jotaka) on 21 September, on a vacant lot near the coast. Warblers and flycatchers were recorded from late September into October, especially on Son Tra peninsula, including Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica), Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus), Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus), Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) and Chinese Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis glaucicomans) on 3 October.

Shorebirds were recorded in good numbers during early September. On 4 September, at Cua Dai, I noted Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), White-faced Plover (Anarhynchus dealbatus), Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii), Tibetan Sand Plover (Anarhynchus atrifrons), Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes) and Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica). Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and Great White Egret (Ardea alba) were also present in Hoi An paddies. Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) was recorded on 20 September. These records reflect what was seen on the dates surveyed, though some individuals may have been present earlier.

Raptors were noted throughout the period. Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus) was seen on 24 September and again on 20 October, and Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) on 15 October. Both species are regular winter visitors to wetland areas in central Vietnam.

A few less frequently recorded species were also observed. Most notably, Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), which has only been recorded in Vietnam five times previously. There were Ashy-headed Green-Pigeon (Treron phayrei) on 31 August, Yellow-vented Green-Pigeon (Treron seimundi) on 2 September, Slaty-legged Crake (Rallina eurizonoides) on 25 September, and Black Bittern (Botaurus flavicollis) on 26 September. In addition to these, I recorded green-pigeon sp. (Treron sp.) on eight occasions between 29 August and 15 October, with flocks ranging from 4 to 18 individuals across sites including Son Tra peninsula and Hoa Quy Wetlands.

By mid-October, several later-season migrants were recorded. Siberian Rubythroat (Calliope calliope) and Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus) were seen on 12 October, followed by Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) on 14 October and Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus) on 17 October. These species are known to occur in central Vietnam during the autumn and winter months, and their presence during this period is consistent with regional patterns.

The records from this period show a gradual turnover of species, with no single peak. Most observations align with known migration schedules, and the variety of sites surveyed helped capture a broad picture of seasonal movement. With the early part of the season over, there is still a lot to look forward to—infrequent visitors, late movers, unexpected vagrants. Of course, field observations depend heavily on the weather and at the moment it is one storm after another, flooding plains and dampening spirits. Let's hope the rains cease soon, for birds' and birders' sakes.


List of winter visitors I observed in DN/QN during this period:


Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus 12 Aug 2025
Eastern Cattle-Egret Ardea coromanda 21 Aug 2025
Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail Motacilla alba21 Aug 2025
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica 22 Aug 2025
Medium Egret Ardea intermedia 25 Aug 2025
Striated Heron Butorides striata 25 Aug 2025
Little Egret Egretta garzetta 25 Aug 2025
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus 26 Aug 2025
Ashy-headed Green-Pigeon Treron phayrei 31 Aug 2025
Yellow-vented Green-Pigeon Treron seimundi 02 Sep 2025
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus 04 Sep 2025
White-faced Plover Anarhynchus dealbatus 04 Sep 202
Greater Sand Plover Anarhynchus leschenaultii 04 Sep 2025
Tibetan Sand Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons 04 Sep 2025
Great White Egret Ardea alba 04 Sep 2025
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 04 Sep 2025
Tibetan Sand Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons 04 Sep 2025
Greater Sand Plover Anarhynchus leschenaultii 04 Sep 2025
White-faced Plover Anarhynchus dealbatus 04 Sep 2025
Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus 04 Sep 2025
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes 04 Sep 2025
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 04 Sep 2025
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 08 Sep 2025
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 19 Sep 2025
Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis 20 Sep 2025
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 20 Sep 2025
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka 21 Sep 2025
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis 22 Sep 2025
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica 22 Sep 2025
Richard's PipitAnthus richardi 23 Sep 2025
Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus 24 Sep 2025
Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides 25 Sep 2025
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 25 Sep 2025
Sanderling Calidris alba 25 Sep 2025
Black Bittern Botaurus flavicollis 26 Sep 2025
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 26 Sep 2025
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 29 Sep 2025
Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta 29 Sep 2025
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus 30 Sep 2025
Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis 02 Oct 2025
Chinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis glaucicomans 03 Oct 2025
Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla 03 Oct 2025
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni 03 Oct 2025
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus 05 Oct 2025
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata 06 Oct 2025
Amur Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri 06 Oct 2025
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 07 Oct 2025
Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus 12 Oct 2025
Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope 12 Oct 2025
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 14 Oct 2025
Osprey Pandion haliaetus 15 Oct 2025
Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus 17 Oct 2025
Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus 20 Oct 2025


Maurizio is the founder of Danang Bird Club, a community dedicated to exploring and celebrating birdlife in Central Vietnam. He is also the author of Birdwatching in Central Vietnam, a guide to the region’s rich avian diversity. Originally from London, Maurizio was a member of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and took part in national bird surveys before bringing his passion for ornithology to Vietnam. Through his writing, Maurizio shares his interest in nature, conservation and the joy of birding.

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