Rare Bird Round-Up - Autumn 2025 (21 September - 20 December)

Grey-streaked Flycatcher


By Maurizio Saroli

Admittedly a little late, but better late than never, this rare bird round-up is a brief summary of the most notable sightings contributed to Danang Bird Club during the period of 21 September 2025 to 20 December 2025. The winter 2026 round-up will follow next week.

With extreme flooding in Central Vietnam and almost continuous rain from October through December, birding was all but impossible for most of the period. Nevertheless, autumn 2025 saw a handful of rare vagrants, passage migrants and winter visitors before the rainy season kicked in.

Speech marks indicate field notes and/or submission notes. Records (or a lack thereof) refer to eBird. Contributors: Maurizio Saroli, Choi Jin Young, Michael Schulte.


An Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria was photographed at New Embankment Wetlands on 24 September (MS). This is the first record from DN/QN. This species is an uncommon resident of S Annam and Cochinchina. "Adult male; black chin/collar to pink nape, red beak, all over green, yellow undertail. Red shoulder patch not visible from frontal position."

Alexandrine Parakeet

Three Black Bitterns Botaurus flavicollis were seen flying over Quang Nam Borderlands on 26 September (MS). "Very black below with streaked breast."

A Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta was photographed at New Embankment Wetlands on 29 September (MS). This is the first record from Danang and only the sixth record from Vietnam. "Displayed most of the features which separate this species from the common Dark-sided Flycatcher: buff lore; white undertail coverts with no barring; streaking on breast-sides distinct, not smudgy; long primary projection; wingbar white, not buffish."

15 Gull-billed Terns Gelochelidon nilotica were observed flying back and forth over the river and diving for fish at New Embankment Wetlands on 1 October (MS). A locally common winter visitor in E Tonkin and Cochinchina, but not recorded in Annam since 1988. Numerous sightings of this species were had by different observers between April and September at Cua Dai Beach but with an average count of 2 and a high count of 4 (MS). This record is the first for DN and is the highest count. The birds were flying back and forth, low over the river, picking fish from the surface.

Gull-billed Tern

Two Asian Golden Weavers Ploceus hypoxanthus were photographed at Hoi An Paddy Fields on 04 October (MS). This record (and the observer's previous records from Danang dating back as far as 2019) is an encouraging sign of range expansion of this near-threatened species' which mostly breeds in Cochinchina. "Male, entirely yellow body (crown, back, rump and underparts), black cheeks and beak, streaked wings. Second bird presumed to be female or non-breeding male of the same species; broad buff supercilium, brown crown and wings, buff face, back and belly, yellow throat, pale beak. Poor photo, but observed clearly."

A Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata was seen at New Embankment Wetlands on 06 October (MS). This species was recorded in Danang for the first time since 2002. "One bird seen in low flight, later perched beside smaller White-throated Kingfisher; remained in tree for 10 minutes; orange belly/bill, royal blue above, black/white/blue wings with fingered edges, black cap, white neck."

A Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus was photographed at New Embankment Wetlands on 12 October (MS, CJY). This is the second record from DN/QN; the first sighting was recorded in 2024. "Flyby, going north along river, low and fast; appeared all over brown, but looking at the photo my companion captured, it was a Turdus species, with grey head and white markings on it, underparts scalloped black and white, wings rufous brown. Unfortunately the photo was accidentally deleted."

A White-throated Needletail hirundapus caudacutus was photographed at Son Tra Nature Reserve on 13 October (CJY). This is the first record from Danang of this scarce passage migrant.

White-throated Needletail

Two Yellow-breasted Buntings Emberiza aureola were seen at Son Tra Nature Reserve on 12 November (MS, MSc), and five and three respectively at An Hai Coastal Scrubland on 15 November and 16 November (MS). A discouragingly small number of birds/observations of this critically endangered species. On 15th seen in association with four Chestnut-eared Buntings Emberiza fucata. 


To submit your rare bird records to the Club, fill out the form and send it to the DBC Rarities Committee via danangbirdclub@gmail.com

For ordinary bird records, Club members share their checklists with us on the eBird platform. All birders are welcome to join the Club and start contributing their records. The Danang Bird Club Official Bird List shows first records of all species observed in Vietnam which have been submitted to the Club and accepted by the Club's Records Committee.



Maurizio is the contributing editor of DBC News, part of Danang Bird Club, a non-profit organisation focused on citizen science, education and advocacy for the conservation of Vietnamese avifauna. He is 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 and took part in national bird surveys like the Nest Record Scheme and the Breeding Bird Survey before bringing his passion for ornithology to Vietnam. 



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