I ran into some identity problems on a recent trip to Vietnam (for my son's
wedding) and I would appreciate any suggestions.
Bird One. 4 November 2005 early morning. A bulbul flying around the top (and
feeding in) some tall trees in a busy park in Ho Chi Minh city (no non-busy
parks there). It was olive above and dirty paler below with darker undertail
coverts. There were streakings behind the eye, which was dark red. I
believe I also saw these birds at the zoo in December last year. Looked most
like Olive-winged Bulbul in the books (Robson SE Asia and Lekagul Birds of
Thailand) but this does not, I think, occur on Vietnam.
Bird Two and Three were both seen on 13 November 2005 midday at the top of
some low trees around the grounds of the pagoda built on a peninsula jutting
unto West Lake in Hanoi. It was Sunday so lots of people about. Both birds
were about the same size - quite a bit bigger than a Common Tailorbird,
which was also in the grounds of the pagoda and smaller than Red-whiskered
Bulbuls, which are common birds in Hanoi.
Bird Two. Back was unmarked greenish olive with TWO conspicuous clear white
wing bars. It had a creamish conspicuous eye stipe. Legs were pinkish red.
Underneath the bird was white with some slight dark streaks on the throat.
My ideas are Artic Warbler (would one have two conspicuous wing bars?) or
Two-barred Warbler (dark throat streaks?).
Bird Three. Back was dark unmarked brownish olive with no streaks or wing
bars. Conspicuous whitefish eye line. Underside was unmarked white with no
tint of yellow except for a noticeable semicircle of buff at the
vent/undertail covert. Legs dark red. Tail was same color as back. My ideas
are Radde's Warbler because of reddish-buff semicircle (but shouldn't
underside have some yellow tint?) or Dusky Warbler (but does it have the
noticeable buff undertail covert?).
Bird Four was seen 12 November 2005 early afternoon walking around the
floating vegetations in the waters of Van Long marsh (flushed by the boat
Ladies?). Several birds were seen but they were quite far out and I didn't
have a scope. Bird was the size of a large rail (Water Rail size but these
are very rare in Vietnam) and it had a huffish brown back with a grey
breast. Tentative identification Brown Crake.
PS. Thanks to everyone who gave me information before I set off.
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