Danang Bird Club News

Words and pictures by Ly Hoang Thank you to Mauri for inviting me to submit this guest blog post. I was in Vietnam between Sunday, Dec 21 to Tuesday, Dec 30, 2025. Although I had been to Vietnam twice before to visit family, this trip would be the first time I would bring binoculars and make note of the birds in the local environs. I’ve only been seriously birding since the fall of 2023, prior to that I noticed birds if they were quite obviously singing but never purposely sought them out to observe and wonder about them as beings. On my previous trips, I'm sad to admit, I didn’t really notice any birds. I remember being awe struck by the water buffalo and the little egrets perched on their backs. Now, as an enthusiastic birder, I couldn’t help but hear the cacophony of bird song despite the nuisance of traffic. I couldn’t help but look skyward and catch the sight of small flocks of birds busy and on the go. Here is a recap of my birding adventures that took place in between family...

Words and photos by Choi Jin Young For me, Danang in Vietnam is just as convenient a place for birdwatching as Korea. The reason is simple: dozens of flights land and take off between Korea and Danang every day, and the airfare is quite affordable. That makes planning and scheduling trips very easy. On top of that, the citizens of Danang, the many tourists, and even the owner of Danang Bird Club are all so kind and welcoming. It’s such a beautiful place that I always want to return for birdwatching. This time, I had several opportunities again to visit Danang. The dazzling birds of Southeast Asia—species you can’t see in Korea—were breathtaking. And watching migratory birds spend the winter here, birds that in Korea are only seen during their migration, made me reflect once more on the greatness of their journey. The Great Journey of Birds As birds cross continents and seas, driven by climate and food, their migration is truly a magnificent journey. Observing them is not only awe-...

For birders, naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts, a spotting scope is often the difference between a vague glimpse and a memorable observation. Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to test the FOMEI 20‑60x80 FOREMAN ED (A), a model that promises powerful optics, comfort in use, and durability in the field.  By Maurizio Saroli FOMEI is a manufacturer of premium sports optics, with its production based in Czechia, EU. Its products are designed primarily for Eastern European markets, yet they meet rigorous European quality standards. For consumers, the key advantage lies in the pricing: FOMEI optics have a significantly lower retail price compared to well‑established brands from the United States, Western Europe and Japan. First Impressions The scope arrives in an olive green protective case with strap, cleaning accessories and lens caps. At first glance, the 80 mm objective lens makes a strong impression: this is a substantial instrument, yet not unwieldy. The angular e...