Wildlife in Vietnam: 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013

The conflict for landing place of Black-faced Spoonbills

The Black-faced Spoonbill spent most time of the day perched on the mangrove trees, but strong winds from the ocean (Haiyan Typhoon was coming) used to make them unstable and have to change their landing place. So that the conflict amongs thems is usual to take a stable shelter, even sometimes they stand on another's back or head. Here are some photos about what happened.
Cò mỏ thìa dành phần lớn thời gian trong ngày nghỉ ngơi trên những cành đước ở khu sinh thái ngập mặt. Nhưng những cơn gió biển mạnh trước ngày bảo Hải Yến đổ bộ thường làm bọn này lắc lư không ngừng và đôi khi phải bay nhảy lên kiếm chỗ đậu khác ổn định hơn. Theo như quan sát thì mình thấy có một cuộc cạnh tranh giữa những cá thể trong đàn để giành nhau chỗ đậu, đôi khi chúng còn giẫm lên lưng, lên đầu những con khác. Dưới đây là một số hình ảnh về những gì đã diễn ra mà mình chụp được.

Resting on the mangrove trees

Sleeping or doing spoonbill's job...

A Spoonbill got unstable when facing a strong wind. Its wing was touching the other on the left

Immediately, the one who've been touch peck back with its spoonbill.

Another same scenes

After being hit, he jumped on another's back to another branch.

And flew to find another stable place to landing, but it was hard to do. Especially when the others weren't comfortable

So he decided to do it his way. He landed on another's back and tried to peck him.

But maybe the back of another still not stable enough to land so he was take off again and flew away...


After a minute, when moving to the another position for a better view very slowly, I suddenly fell down and make a big noise. After that, they are all took off and flew away. What a shame to me...

This weekend I'll be there again to have more chance to learn about their habitat, behavior and looking for more better pictures. Anyone wanna join me?
Enjoy,
lifeline1001@gmail.com

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Black-Faced Spoonbill in Vietnam

I had a chance to see Black-faced Spoonbill which is a winter migrator in Vietnam, It's an endangered species (Current IUCN Red List category).
As a report of IUCN, the Black-Faced Spoonbill population as of 2012 census was recorded at 2,693 birds, with an estimation of 1,600 mature birds all around the world.
And there were 20 of them when I came Xuan Thuy Nature reserve. A staff of Xuan Thuy Nature reserve told me there were 39 last year so there are some more of them are coming. And here, we had a pic of flying Black-faced Spoonbill:

As I observed , they spent most time of the day perched on the mangrove trees in protected areas. Especially in these days of bad weather. During the time keep stay on mangrove trees, I saw an intersting behavior of them that I'm going to tell in next post :)
lifeline1001@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Photo of the October :)

I had an amazing short trip at 5th October. After that I had to back to work, then I dont have much time to choose which photo I like best in the October.
My favourite photo of the October is a shot with an White-Vented Myna, an common bird. It was a round 5-6pm, when I was in my tend, he just landed beside me and started to ruffed feathers againts the first cold winter wind. And I got the shot, here we are:

The second shot will be awesome if I keep calm and adjust the compotition ... That was a fail one haizzz... after this shot, the bird flew away and I missed the shot

Tomorrow, I'll get a 4 days trip again, and hope to have some good shots.
Enjoy :)
lifeline1001@gmail.com - Hoang Le

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Experiences with Painted Stork

It's not difficult to find some Painted Stork photos. But how's about taking photos of them in the wild? Hunting activities make them are now near threatened bird, they are becoming so shy from the people. So here are my experiences:
- You should be prepared because they are so shy bird. They can see you from a very very long distances so if you wanna to close to the subject you should approach them slowly, step by step.
- You should wear clothes that can make them hard to find you like camourflage clothes. I used to spot them first, then the next morning I woke up at 4 or 5am and take my tend to their place, set up everything and wait for them.
- They can hear you from a very long distances. So watch your step and try to keep silent (especially if you go with a small group of people).
- Learn their behaviors to have a good shot, wait until they do something interesting.
Well, let's have a look at what we have here :) I think it's not as I expect but ....let's have a look :)