Summary
Located in Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc provinces, in the lowlands of southern Vietnam, far from Sai Gon 180 km, Cat Tien National Park is one of the top birding site in Vietnam. The topography of the site is characterised by a flat plain in the west, and low, gentle hills in the east. The major vegetation types at the park are lowland semi-evergreen forest and lowland evergreen forest, although the park also supports extensive swamps and other wetlands. Cat Tien supports one of the most intact lowland forest avifauna in Vietnam. Most notably, there are confirmed records of 16 globally threatened and near-threatened bird species from the national park, the highest total for any protected area in Vietnam. Cat Tien supports all three restricted-range species that define the South Vietnamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area: Orange-necked Partridge, Germain's Peacock Pheasant and Grey-faced Tit Babbler. Cat Tien is also one of the best sites in Vietnam to see Green Peafowl, Siamese Fireback, Wreathed Hornbill, Great Hornbill and Bar-bellied Pitta.
Birdlist
Trip reports
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1
Early morning: Pick you up at the hotel and have breakfast on the way to Dong Nai Province. About 10:30am, getting the permission then crossing the Dong Nai river and entering the park. Check in accommodation. Take a short birding to see Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Bulbuls, Common Iora, Golden-fronted and Leafbirds.
Lunch.
After lunch: Birding on trail in from Headquarter to Ben Cu (about 1 km) for Orange-headed Trogon, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Lineated and Green-eared Barbet, Black-crested Bulbul, Black-hooded and Black-naped Oriole, White-rumped Shama, and more. Go back the guest house and take a rest until 03:00 pm.
Afternoon: Walking on opposite way to see Red-breasted Parakeet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Dollarbird, Woodswallow, Asian Palm Swift, Barn Swallow, Spotted and Red-collared Dove, Greater Coucal, Drongo Cuckoo, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Bronzed; Black and Crow-billed Drongo, White-crested Laughingthrush etc.
In twilight: Nightjars and Owls.
Day 2 - Birding all day:
05:00 am in the early morning, hire a Jeep or Pick up car for 11km, walking on the trail through the forest 5 km to go to Crocodile lake (Bau Sau). Throughout this trail we may see Germain's Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, many species of Babblers, Bar-bellied Pitta.
About 08:30 am, we get to the lake and see many species such as Green Peafowl, Great Hornbill, Lesser Adjutant, Woolly-necked Stork, Wreathed Hornbill, Egrets, Herons, Osprey, Purple Swamphen, Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Kingfishers, Lesser Whistling-duck, Oriental Magpie Robin, and many other species.
Walking back at 10:00 and the car pick up us at 12:00, back to the guest house, lunch and rest or birding around the guest house to see Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Minivets, Black-naped Monarch, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Olive-backed and Rubby-checked Sunbird.
Day 3
Morning birding
Leave the park after dinner and arrive at HCMC at about 05:00pm
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included: Private car, all meals, drinking water, seesighting fee and permission, accommodation, experience English speaking bird-guide. Providing spotting scope, guide book.
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