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...

© Craig Brelsford Of all the laughingthrush species seen in Danang, none is as eye-catching as the brilliant Red-tailed Laughingthrush. A rare and illusive bird typically found in the Central Vietnamese highlands. By Maurizio Saroli Laughingthrushes are among the most recognisable bird groups in Asia. Their heavy bodies, strong bills and loud social calls make them conspicuous wherever they occur. Vietnam is especially important for this family: several species are endemic or near‑endemic, and others reach their distribution limits here. For birders, they are both a challenge and a reward—often skulking in dense cover, yet unforgettable once seen. The country’s mountains host a suite of laughingthrushes that are either restricted to the Annamites or have their core populations here. Ngoc Linh, Bach Ma and Kon Tum are names that resonate with birders precisely because of these species. The White‑cheeked Laughingthrush, for example, is largely confined to Vietnam and Laos, while the Blac...

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...

© William Hearn By Maurizio Saroli On 6 September 2025 at My Son Sanctuary, Quang Nam, I observed and made an audio recording of a male Purple Sunbird  Cinnyris asiaticus  which was singing in a tree amongst the ancient Cham ruins. This sighting represents the first record for Annam. C omparative plumage and v ocal analysis  are discussed below. Accompanied by a sharp, high-pitched call, the male Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus is compact and glossy, with deep violet-black plumage in breeding condition. In eclipse plumage, as observed on 6 September, the male appears duller, with brownish tones and faint iridescence visible only in direct light. Females are olive brown above and buff below, with a pale yellow throat. Both sexes share a short, decurved bill and rapid, darting flight. The Purple Sunbird is a fast-moving, nectar-feeding passerine typically found in open scrub and gardens across southern Asia. Foraging is quick and deliberate, with short hovering bouts and...

© Natthaphat Chotjuckdikul By Maurizio Saroli On 4th October 2025, I spotted two Asian Golden Weavers Ploceus hypoxanthus in the paddy fields near Hoi An. One was unmistakably male, the other likely a female or immature male. It was a brief encounter, but one that stirred a mix of excitement and curiosity—not just because of the sighting itself, but because of what it might mean for the species’ status in central Vietnam. The Asian Golden Weaver isn’t typically expected in this region. Its known range is largely confined to parts of Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam. Yet this wasn’t my first encounter with the species here. I’d previously recorded a pair at Asia Park in Danang, with sightings dating back to 2019. The question remains: are these isolated individuals, or are we seeing the early signs of a return? One of the challenges in confirming range expansions—or even basic distribution—is the lack of consistent birding data in Vietnam. eBird statistics paint a stark picture:...

Cages hang in rows at a bird café in Danang where owners gather to compare birds over coffee and cigarettes. Photo credit: MS By Maurizio Saroli Once a familiar sight across central Vietnam’s lowlands, the Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus is now more often seen in cages than in the wild. Its fluting song more often heard in alleyways, verandas and bird cafés. After 90 checklists in 2025, I finally saw my first Red-whiskered Bulbul of the year, in Danang. That brief sighting made me reflect on why these birds are disappearing—and prompted me to write this post about the role the pet trade has played in their decline. Photo credit: Vikram S Conservation Snapshot IUCN Status: Least Concern globally, but declining in parts of Southeast Asia due to trapping. Habitat: Forest edges, gardens, lowland scrub. Threats: Pet trade, habitat loss, lack of regulation. Local Trends: Marked decline in sightings across Danang and Quang Nam.  Conserv...