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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dalat" data-source="post: 3308794" data-attributes="member: 65207">Cat Tien National ParkNext birding opportunity was a short trip to Cat Tien National Park. Probably the best birding site in Vietnam (next to Dalat of course) and I really love going there. This time, the mission was not a big list or cleaning up some of the birds still not seen (e.g. a certain Partridge), but to take my son and give him some jungle feel. Of course I always have the hope to get him interested in birds and stuff, and he sometimes he likes indeed to come along, other times not really. I'll generally try not to overdo it, but I was sure he'll enjoy Cat Tien, as there is enough exiting wildlife around to see.We stayed 2 nights, one at the park HQ (inside, not in one of the newer nicely looking hotels on the other river side near the ferry) and another night at Crocodile lake. We arrived late, allowing for just a short walk in the direction of the grass lands. We observed a few nice Drongos, Ashy, Black and Hair-crested through the scope but it got dark quickly. Great Eared Nightjars circling above were nice!Next morning we went to the Heaven's Rapid's trail. When sorting through the bicycles to find the largest and the smallest one among those still working, suddenly Buff-cheecked Gibbons started to calling right above. Took a while until they moved out of the dense foliage, but nice views then. Phantastic, just next to the reception, while somehow I always managed to miss them on previous occasions, really happy! Also the little one was mightily impressed by the noises these guys can do.Cycling along the road towards the junction of the trail, we collected some more primates, several Macaques (in the end we had seen all three spieces: Long-tailed, Stump-Tailed and Pig-tailed Macaques), and nice views of Black-shanked Doucs. Just love them!On the trail then a selection of commoner birds of the region, and I spent most time to get Woodpeckers in the scope, as those never fail to impress. Not very successfull though, an unidentfied Flameback, some Yellownapes that preferred to remain invisible, but nice views of Bay Woodpecker and Laced Woodpecker. And then out of the sudden came the star bird of the morning: a wonderfull Banded Kingfisher, just sitting there in front of us and giving enough time for admiration. A bird I never managed to see in Vietnam before and of the type of birds I definitly wanted to show to my son.On the way back for noodles, an Asian Pied Hornbill made a great show and didn't fail to impress (unfortunately we didn't see any of the larger Hornbills). On the bikes again, the 10 km ride to the trail head for Crocodile Lake. More Macaques on the way and a Blue-birded Bea-Eater being the best bird. The trail to Croc Lake also got paved now, although a bit better done than those at Con Dao: a more modest 1 m width and not slipery at all, ok to walk. Best improvement is certainly for the rangers staying at the lake, a less bumpy ride on the motorbike now.The trail to Crocodile lake was difficult birding (as usual), no Firebacks but nice views of Red Junglefowl at least. But the forest with some really big trees, huge leaves and small nasty leeches was entertaining enough, so it never got boring. Pittas were hardly calling and refused to react to my tape. But at one point, a Bar-bellied Pitta was calling right next to the trail, so I sent my son in front to stalk it. He did a great job, slowly approaching and he managed to get on the bird! Bingo! His first Pitta!A lot of primates near the trail crashing in the canopy, but rather difficult to get good views. Most were Black-shanked Doucs, but at one point, I managed to see a tail and a bum of a Silvered Langur. Arriving at Crocodile Lake, I really was pleased to find cold beer there, and we relaxed on the terrace. Not many birds on the lake, but Great Eared Nightjars and an atmospheric sunset were beautiful enough. Spotlighting around the buildings later, we saw Sanbar and lots of Siamese Crododile eyes, but he was too tired to go more in the forest, so we went to sleep.Next morning we waited for the fog to clear. Again little activity on the lake, but the Green Peafowls showed up at least. Not much new on the trail back, but on the road we found Red-and-black Broadbill. A nice little adventure, enjoyed equally by dad and son. We slept pretty well in the car on the way to Dalat.</blockquote>

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